Written Answers Tuesday 5 May 2009

Scottish Executive

Agriculture and Fisheries Council

Jim Hume (South of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive in what capacity the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment attended the meeting of the Council of the European Union on 23 March 2009.

Richard Lochhead: The Cabinet Secretary attended the formal meeting of the Agriculture and Fisheries Council as a member of the United Kingdom delegation. He also, whilst in Brussels, attended meetings in his capacity as Scottish Government Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment.

Air Services

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the recent European Commission ruling in relation to Brussels South Chaleroi Airport, what assessment it has made of the legality of a Scottish air route development fund.

Stewart Stevenson: The Court of First Instance’s annulment of the European Commission’s decision on advantages granted by the Walloon Region and by Charleroi Airport to Ryanair did not refer to the commission’s guidelines on aid for the start-up of new air routes or the issue of compatibility of aid. It is, however, the intention of the Commission to review the effectiveness and suitability of the guidelines and this work will commence by the end of 2009.

Air Services

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what targets it has set for the establishment of new direct international air routes to and from Scotland in each of the next five years.

Stewart Stevenson: We wish to see improvements in Scotland’s international air links which help to promote business connections and make Scotland more accessible for inbound tourists. Decisions on whether to serve the Scottish market are commercial ones for airlines in negotiation with Scotland’s airport operators. Although we have no specific targets, we believe that there is potential to improve links to existing and emerging markets in Europe, North America and Asia.

Air Services

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the effectiveness of its sponsorship of the conference reception at the 2008 World Route Development Forum in Kuala Lumpur and what plans it has for sponsorship of future routes conferences.

Stewart Stevenson: The sponsored reception at the World Route Development Forum in Kuala Lumpur focused on the promotion of Scotland and the potential of the Scottish market for business and tourism. New contacts were made and existing contacts renewed with airlines from Europe, North America and Asia. Research carried out after the reception illustrated a high satisfaction rate from attendees.

  In line with our strategy to improve Scotland’s international air links we will be sponsoring a reception at the World Forum in Beijing in September 2009 and hosting a stand to promote Scottish business and tourism opportunities. In addition, we will be supporting Scotland’s airport operators at the Routes Europe event in Prague in May 2009.

Air Services

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost was of its sponsorship of the conference reception at the 2008 World Route Development Forum in Kuala Lumpur.

Stewart Stevenson: The cost of the sponsored reception at the World Route Development Forum in Kuala Lumpur was £46,810.05.

Air Services

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the operators of Scottish airports, including airports in the Highlands and Islands, regarding the establishment and promotion of new direct international air routes to and from Scotland.

Stewart Stevenson: We have regular dialogue at both ministerial and official level with Scotland’s airport operators on a range of issues, including the maintenance and improvement of Scotland’s international air connectivity.

Air Services

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what support it has offered to airlines in the last 12 months to encourage the establishment of new direct international routes to and from Scotland.

Stewart Stevenson: We have offered no financial support in the past 12 months for the establishment of new direct international routes serving Scotland. We have however provided market intelligence and data to a wide range of airlines on the potential of the Scottish market to sustain new and viable international air links.

Air Services

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much VisitScotland and other government sponsored bodies have contributed towards airline marketing in the last 12 months.

Jim Mather: VisitScotland does not contribute directly to airlines’ marketing costs. However, they do carry out jointly funded partnership campaigns with various businesses including airlines. In the last 12 months, VisitScotland has spent approximately £2.35 million on jointly funded campaigns that involved airlines. VisitScotland’s broader marketing campaigns also point consumers to information on the accessibility of Scotland and specific air routes.

  Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd also provides marketing support to promote and sustain air services in the Highlands and Islands. However, this information is commercially confidential.

  No other government sponsored body contributes towards airline marketing.

Air Services

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what analysis it has carried out of the economic benefit of the former air route development fund.

Stewart Stevenson: An evaluation of the former Air Route Development Fund is currently being undertaken and will be completed in 2009-10. A number of appraisal tests are being carried out as part of the evaluation to assess the impact of the fund and a full economic appraisal is being undertaken for each route which received investment.

Air Services

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken to promote and encourage an extension of international connections in line with the SNP’s 2007 election manifesto pledge.

Stewart Stevenson: Our strategy to maintain and improve Scotland’s international air connectivity has two elements: maintaining and developing Scotland’s profile within the airline sector, including at world events such as the World Route Development Forum, and the provision of market intelligence and data to airlines on the potential of the Scottish market to sustain new direct international air services. In implementing our strategy we work closely with Scotland’s airport operators.

Alcohol Misuse

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many retailers were prosecuted for selling alcohol to underage customers in (a) 2006, (b) 2007 and (c) 2008, broken down by (i) police force and (ii) local authority area and showing the fines in each case.

Kenny MacAskill: The available information is given in the following tables. The data held centrally cannot be broken down between shop owners and licensed drinking establishments.

  Persons Proceeded Against for Selling Alcohol to Underage Persons1, by Police Force Area, 2005-06 to 2007-08

  
  Police Force Area
  2005-06
  2006-07
  2007-08

  Central 
  7
  8
  10

  Dumfries and Galloway
  6
  -
  2

  Fife 
  -
  5
  3

  Grampian 
  3
  8
  9

  Lothian and Borders 
  12
  16
  22

  Northern 
  2
  4
  3

  Strathclyde 
  41
  45
  54

  Tayside 
  1
  2
  8

  Scotland
  72
  88
  111



  Note: 1. Where the main offence is under the Licensing (Scotland) Act 1976 Sections 67, 68(1) and 68(7).

  Persons Proceeded Against for Selling Alcohol to Underage Persons1, by Approximate Local Authority Area2, 2005-06 - 2007-08

  
  Local Authority Area
  2005-06
  2006-07
  2007-08

  Aberdeen City 
  3
  8
  2

  Aberdeenshire 
  -
  -
  6

  Angus 
  -
  2
  5

  Argyll and Bute 
  -
  -
  -

  Clackmannanshire 
  1
  -
  -

  Dumfries and Galloway
  6
  -
  2

  Dundee City 
  -
  -
  3

  East Ayrshire 
  4
  3
  5

  East Dunbartonshire
  -
  -
  -

  East Lothian 
  2
  1
  2

  East Renfrewshire 
  -
  -
  2

  Edinburgh, City of 
  5
  9
  4

  Eilean Siar
  -
  -
  -

  Falkirk 
  4
  4
  9

  Fife 
  -
  5
  3

  Glasgow City 
  7
  10
  5

  Highland 
  2
  3
  2

  Inverclyde 
  -
  -
  5

  Midlothian 
  1
  4
  4

  Moray 
  -
  -
  1

  North Ayrshire 
  1
  3
  4

  North Lanarkshire 
  2
  7
  6

  Orkney Islands 
  -
  1
  -

  Perth and Kinross 
  1
  -
  -

  Renfrewshire 
  -
  5
  12

  Scottish Borders 
  4
  1
  6

  Shetland Islands 
  -
  -
  -

  South Ayrshire 
  9
  9
  8

  South Lanarkshire 
  17
  6
  4

  Stirling 
  2
  4
  1

  West Dunbartonshire
  1
  2
  3

  West Lothian
  -
  1
  6

  Not Known 
  -
  -
  1

  Scotland
  72
  88
  111



  Note:

  1. Where the main offence is under the Licensing (Scotland) Act 1976 Sections 67, 68(1) and 68(7).

  2. Incorporates an approximate mapping of sheriff courts into local authority areas. Some sheriff courts will deal with cases from more than one local authority area. Four local authority areas, namely East Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire, Midlothian and North Ayrshire, do not contain a sheriff court.

  Persons Fined for Selling Alcohol to Underage Persons1, by Fine Amount, 2005-06 to 2007-08.

  
Fine Amount(£)
  2005-06
  2006-07
  2007-08

  40
  -
  1
  -

  50
  2
  3
  -

  60
  -
  1
  4

  70
  -
  1
  1

  75
  -
  -
  1

  80
  2
  1
  -

  100
  10
  2
  1

  120
  1
  -
  1

  130
  -
  1
  -

  135
  -
  -
  2

  140
  -
  2
  -

  150
  4
  4
  3

  200
  2
  9
  5

  225
  -
  2
  -

  240
  -
  -
  1

  250
  3
  5
  3

  270
  -
  1
  -

  300
  1
  1
  9

  320
  -
  -
  1

  350
  -
  -
  4

  375
  -
  -
  2

  400
  -
  1
  3

  450
  1
  -
  -

  500
  -
  3
  4

  600
  -
  1
  1

  650
  -
  -
  1

  1,000
  -
  -
  2

  Total
  26
  39
  49



  Note: 1. Where the main offence is under the Licensing (Scotland) Act 1976 Sections 67, 68(1) and 68(7).

Alcohol Misuse

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many on-sales licence holders were prosecuted for selling alcohol to underage customers in (a) 2006, (b) 2007 and (c) 2008, broken down by (i) police force and (ii) local authority area and showing the fines in each case.

Kenny MacAskill: On-sales cannot be identified separately from other types of licence holders in the information held centrally on court proceedings. I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-22817 on 5 May 2009, which gives the total numbers proceeded against for selling alcohol to underage persons. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx..

Alcohol Misuse

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many on-sales premises had their licence to sell alcohol (a) suspended or (b) revoked in each of the last five years, broken down by local authority area.

Kenny MacAskill: The information requested is given in the following table.

  Suspensions of On-Sales Liquor Licences: 2003-07

  
 
  2003
  2004
  2005
  2006
  2007

  Aberdeen City
  2
  -
  -
  -
  -

  Aberdeenshire
  2
  2
  -
  -
  -

  Angus
  1
  1
  1
  2
  1

  Clackmannanshire
  -
  -
  -
  2
  -

  Dumfries and Galloway
  -
  -
  1
  -
  -

  Dundee City
  2
  -
  1
  1
  -

  East Ayrshire
  -
  2
  -
  1
  1

  East Renfrewshire
  1
  -
  -
  -
  -

  Edinburgh, City of
  -
  3
  -
  -
  -

  Falkirk
  -
  -
  -
  2
  -

  Fife
  -
  1
  1
  -
  5

  Glasgow City
  -
  -
  4
  -
  1

  Highland
  -
  1
  -
  -
  1

  Moray
  -
  -
  -
  2
  1

  North Ayrshire
  2
  -
  -
  -
  -

  North Lanarkshire
  1
  1
  1
  -
  1

  Orkney Islands
  -
  -
  -
  1
  -

  Perth and Kinross
  -
  1
  -
  -
  2

  Scottish Borders
  -
  -
  1
  -
  -

  South Lanarkshire
  1
  1
  -
  -
  -

  West Dunbartonshire
  -
  1
  1
  -
  -

  West Lothian
  -
  -
  -
  1
  1

  Scotland
  12
  14
  11
  12
  14



  Source: data provided by local authority licensing boards to Scottish Government Justice Analytical Services.

  Notes:

  1. In this table, - denotes nil.

  2. The legislation under which these licences were granted does not make provision for the revocation of a licence. Legislation has recently been passed which does make such a provision and will come fully into force on 1 September 2009.

  3. Transitional arrangements have been in place since February 2008 pending the full implementation of new legislation and therefore figures for 2008 are not available on a consistent basis.

Alcohol Misuse

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many individuals were prosecuted for purchasing excisable liquor for consumption by a person under 18 in each of the last five years, broken down by (a) police force and (b) local authority area and showing the fines in each case.

Kenny MacAskill: The available information is given in the following tables.

  Persons Proceeded Against for Purchasing Excisable Liquor for Consumption by an Underage Person1, by Police Force Area, 2003-04 - 2007-08

  
  Police Force Area
  2003-04
  2004-05
  2005-06
  2006-07
  2007-08

  Central 
  4
  6
  7
  7
  14

  Dumfries and Galloway
  3
  5
  6
  3
  2

  Fife 
  2
  -
  1
  4
  6

  Grampian 
  8
  2
  1
  9
  6

  Lothian and Borders 
  9
  4
  10
  14
  14

  Northern 
  5
  16
  6
  12
  13

  Strathclyde 
  21
  18
  51
  40
  45

  Tayside 
  6
  4
  5
  9
  10

  Scotland
  58
  55
  87
  98
  110



  Note: 1. Where the main offence is under the Licensing (Scotland) Act 1976 Sections 68(3) and (7).

  Persons Proceeded Against for Purchasing Excisable Liquor for Consumption by an Underage Person1, by Approximate Local Authority Area2, 2003-04 - 2007-08

  
  Local Authority Area
  2003-04
  2004-05
  2005-06
  2006-07
  2007-08

  Aberdeen City 
  1
  -
  -
  2
  4

  Aberdeenshire 
  3
  -
  -
  2
  -

  Angus 
  2
  4
  3
  2
  2

  Argyll and Bute 
  4
  2
  3
  2
  1

  Clackmannanshire 
  -
  -
  2
  -
  4

  Dumfries and Galloway
  3
  5
  6
  3
  2

  Dundee City 
  2
  -
  1
  5
  3

  East Ayrshire 
  3
  1
  3
  1
  5

  East Dunbartonshire
  2
  2
  2
  -
  -

  East Lothian 
  1
  -
  1
  4
  5

  East Renfrewshire 
  -
  -
  -
  -
  1

  Edinburgh, City of 
  2
  -
  3
  1
  2

  Eilean Siar
  -
  1
  1
  2
  1

  Falkirk 
  1
  3
  3
  4
  7

  Fife 
  2
  -
  1
  4
  6

  Glasgow City 
  7
  6
  12
  7
  5

  Highland 
  5
  11
  5
  5
  8

  Inverclyde 
  -
  -
  1
  -
  1

  Midlothian 
  1
  -
  1
  1
  -

  Moray 
  4
  2
  1
  5
  2

  North Ayrshire 
  1
  -
  1
  2
  1

  North Lanarkshire 
  1
  1
  11
  8
  10

  Orkney Islands 
  -
  2
  -
  4
  2

  Perth and Kinross 
  2
  -
  1
  2
  5

  Renfrewshire 
  -
  -
  4
  4
  3

  Scottish Borders 
  4
  4
  5
  6
  6

  Shetland Islands 
  -
  2
  -
  1
  2

  South Ayrshire 
  2
  -
  7
  5
  7

  South Lanarkshire 
  1
  6
  6
  9
  8

  Stirling 
  3
  3
  2
  3
  3

  West Dunbartonshire
  -
  -
  1
  2
  3

  West Lothian
  1
  -
  -
  2
  1

  Scotland
  58
  55
  87
  98
  110



  Notes:

  1. Where the main offence is under the Licensing (Scotland) Act 1976 Sections 68(3) and (7).

  2. Incorporates an approximate mapping of sheriff courts into local authority areas. Some sheriff courts will deal with cases from more than one local authority area. Four local authority areas, namely East Dunbartonshire, East Renfrewshire, Midlothian and North Ayrshire, do not contain a sheriff court.

  Persons Fined for Purchasing Excisable Liquor for Consumption by an Underage Person1, by Fine Amount, 2003-04 - 2007-08

  
Fine Amount(£)
  2003-04
  2004-05
  2005-06
  2006-07
  2007-08

  25
  -
  1
  -
  -
  -

  30
  2
  -
  -
  -
  -

  35
  -
  -
  -
  1
  -

  40
  -
  2
  1
  2
  1

  50
  4
  3
  4
  6
  4

  60
  4
  3
  4
  1
  1

  65
  -
  -
  1
  -
  1

  70
  1
  -
  2
  4
  6

  75
  6
  4
  5
  2
  5

  80
  2
  2
  8
  4
  4

  85
  -
  -
  -
  1
  -

  90
  -
  1
  -
  -
  -

  100
  9
  11
  19
  18
  24

  120
  2
  -
  2
  1
  3

  125
  1
  -
  1
  3
  1

  130
  -
  -
  1
  2
  -

  135
  -
  -
  -
  1
  -

  140
  -
  -
  -
  1
  1

  150
  5
  2
  5
  10
  13

  160
  1
  -
  2
  -
  -

  170
  -
  -
  -
  1
  -

  175
  -
  -
  -
  1
  2

  180
  -
  1
  -
  -
  3

  200
  8
  8
  7
  9
  8

  210
  -
  -
  -
  1
  -

  225
  -
  -
  -
  1
  2

  230
  -
  -
  1
  1
  -

  240
  -
  1
  -
  -
  -

  250
  2
  4
  2
  -
  2

  265
  -
  -
  -
  -
  1

  300
  1
  3
  3
  2
  1

  320
  -
  -
  -
  -
  1

  335
  -
  -
  -
  1
  -

  350
  -
  -
  1
  -
  -

  400
  -
  1
  1
  -
  -

  500
  -
  1
  1
  1
  4

  550
  1
  -
  -
  -
  -

  750
  -
  -
  -
  1
  -

  Total
  49
  48
  71
  76
  88



  Note: 1. Where the main offence is under the Licensing (Scotland) Act 1976 Sections 68(3) and (7).

Ambulance Service

Bill Butler (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-12712 by Shona Robison on 13 May 2008, how many times ministers have met the Scottish Ambulance Service to discuss the training of volunteer ambulance car drivers since 13 May 2008, broken down by date of meeting and minister involved.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Ambulance Service and the Scottish Government have not met to discuss the training of volunteer car drivers.

Apprenticeships

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps have been taken to ensure that there is improved access for women to adult apprenticeships in engineering and construction.

Fiona Hyslop: Young people’s career choices are often persuaded by stereotyped views about which jobs are suitable for men and which are suitable for women. The construction and engineering industries have been particularly proactive in working to challenge these perceptions.

  To comply with their Public Sector Duties under the equality legislation, Skills Development Scotland (SDS) will undertake an Equality Impact Assessment on the Modern Apprenticeship programme in the coming year. Early discussions with the Equality and Human Rights Commission have indicated a willingness to work with SDS on the Occupational Segregation aspect of the Equality Impact Assessment.

Crime

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-17154 by Kenny MacAskill on 12 November 2008, what additional information it has on how much money recovered from convicted criminals under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 has been spent in the Lothians region, broken down by (a) parliamentary constituency and (b) project.

Kenny MacAskill: Further to the information given in answer to S3W-17154 on 12 November 2008, the Scottish Government can confirm that the remainder of West Lothian’s allocation under the fund administered by YouthLink has now been distributed (£36,902.37). This brings the total to nearly £71,000. The successful projects in West Lothian are as follows:

  
  Round 1
 

  Bridgend Senior Youth Club
  £12,000.00

  Round 2
 

  Edinburgh and Lothians Racial Equality Council
  £9,280.00

  Children 1st
  £27,441.37

  YWCA Livingston
  £2,408.00

  Loganlea Miners Welfare Charitable Society
  £9,798.00

  Edinburgh Cyrenian Trust
  £9,461.00



  Information relating to YouthLink-administered CashBack funding in other areas in the Lothians regions is unchanged.

  Scottish Rugby Union are continuing their programme of activities for young people and in 2008-09, 14,779 primary and secondary school pupils participated in rugby taster sessions in the Lothians region. Spending figures to date are recorded according to local authority area rather than parliamentary constituency and are broken down as follows:

  
  East Lothian Council
  £19,000.00

  West Lothian Council
  £8,000.00

  City of Edinburgh Council
  £38,000.00

  Midlothian Council
  £12,000.00

  Total
  £77,000.00



  Similarly, the Scottish Football Association is continuing to deliver Midnight League, Street Football and Soccer One across all regions in the Lothians and Schools of Football in Dalkeith. A total of £72,162 was spent in the Lothians area with over 3175 young people participating. Spending figures for 2008-09 are broken down by local authority area as follows:

  
  Edinburgh 
  £29,737.50 (977 participants)

  Midlothian 
  £15,050.00 (1109 participants)

  East Lothian 
  £15,050.00 (229 participants)

  West Lothian 
  £12,325.00 (860 participants)



  Scottish Sports Futures delivered Jump2It basketball sessions in Edinburgh and West Lothian to 311 participants in 2008. A total of £25,000 in Edinburgh and £11,000 in West Lothian was invested in these health and citizenship focussed activities. Scottish Sports Futures have also spent £6,000 to date on the delivery of Twilight Basketball diversionary activities in two locations in Edinburgh (Pilton and Portobello).

  Basketballscotland have continued to promote basketball participation across Scotland through the deployment of four regional co-ordinators funded by CashBack, including one in East-Central Scotland.

  The second culture strand of CashBack was announced in March 2009. The Creative Identities project is an 18-month programme of creative learning activities for young people targeting young carers in particular, but will be open to all young people. Edinburgh and the Lothians are included in the East and Central Programme Plan, which will be led by Edinburgh-based partners Pilton Video and Dance Base. They have been allocated a total of £216,200 to deliver projects across the region.

Crime

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-22377 by Kenny MacAskill on 21 April 2009, whether it is now in a position to provide the data for 2007-08.

Kenny MacAskill: This information has been taken from the Scottish Government’s Court Proceedings database and does not include young people who have been referred to the reporter.

  In 2007-08, there were 7,888 instances of people under 18 who were convicted of crimes/offences in Scottish courts. As some people were convicted on more than one occasion in 2007-08, this equated to 4,904 individual people.

  Three thousand and ninety-six of these individuals had not been convicted of any previous crime/offence in the period back to 1 April 1997, leaving 1,808 people who had committed at least one other crime/offence prior to their most recent one. Among the repeat offenders, the numbers convicted of two, three, four, five to ten and over ten crimes/offences in the period back to 1 April 1997 were, respectively, 914, 410, 224, 259 and one.

Dental Health

Ross Finnie (West of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many children have been admitted to a dental hospital in each of the last five years, broken down by NHS board.

Shona Robison: Number of children (0-17 years) admitted to a Dental Hospital by NHS board of residence and financial year are shown in the following table:

  
  NHS Board
  2003-04
  2004-05
  2005-06
  2006-07
  2007-08

  Ayrshire and Arran
  28
  25
  36
  10
  0

  Borders
  *
  6
  6
  *
  0

  Dumfries and Galloway
  *
  *
  *
  *
  0

  Fife 
  5
  7
  4
  *
  0

  Forth Valley 
  9
  7
  11
  *
  0

  Greater Glasgow and Clyde
  1,882
  1,502
  1,940
  583
  0

  Highland 
  10
  7
  5
  3
  0

  Lanarkshire
  387
  218
  198
  68
  0

  Lothian
  1,050
  927
  376
  4
  3

  Tayside
  *
  *
  *
  *
  0

  Other
  *
  *
  *
  *
  0

  Total
  3,376
  2,701
  2,578
  671
  3



  Source: SMR01, ISD.

  Notes:

  1. "*" less than three.

  2. "Other" NHS board refers to any patient with an unknown residence or who is not a Scottish resident.

  3. An individual child is counted once in any year, even if they are admitted twice or more in a year.

  There are two dental hospitals in Scotland with inpatient beds Edinburgh and Glasgow Dental Hospital. Children are no longer treated as an in-patient within dental hospitals. This was phased out from 2004-05. If children require to be admitted to hospital for dental treatment they are treated within a general acute hospital or they are seen as an out-patient.

Dentistry

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of people in Tayside have access to an NHS dentist.

Shona Robison: At 30 September 2008, 64.5% of people were registered with an NHS dentist in Tayside.

  This does not represent the percentage of people in Tayside who are registered. Registration (numerator) are based on the postcode of the practice where the patient has registered with a general dental practitioner. The population (denominator) is based on where the patient resides, in this case Tayside.

Digital Technology

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is satisfied that the services provided to it under contract by Avanti Caledonian Broadband Ltd for broadband services in the Highlands and Islands are as per contract.

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is satisfied with the level and reliability of services being offered to it under contract by Avanti Caledonian Broadband Ltd for the provision of broadband services.

Jim Mather: The Scottish Government is broadly satisfied that the broadband services, the level of service, and the reliability of services provided to end-users in the Highlands and Islands (and elsewhere in Scotland) by Avanti Caledonian Broadband Ltd meet Avanti’s obligations as specified in the contract and in accordance with the end-users’ terms and conditions. Whilst we are aware of some individual customer complaints, we are satisfied that Avanti is making every effort to resolve any issues to the customers’ satisfaction.

Education

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what sanctions are available to deal with local authorities in breach of the Parental Involvement in Headteacher and Deputy Headteacher Appointments (Scotland) Regulations 2007 (SSI 2007/132).

Keith Brown: Local authority appointment procedures for senior posts must comply with the legislation contained in the Scottish Schools (Parental Involvement) Act 2006 (the Act) and related regulations. Section 15 of the Act allows for parental representation to HM Inspectorate of Education (HMIE) on matters of interest or concern. HMIE must take account of any representations received and may use it to inform future education authority and school inspections.

Education

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether local agreements with no statutory basis should take precedence over the Parental Involvement in Headteacher and Deputy Headteacher Appointments (Scotland) Regulations 2007 (SSI 2007/132).

Keith Brown: Local authorities must ensure that their locally agreed procedures for the appointment of senior staff comply with any statutory regulations drawn up by Scottish ministers and must also pay due regard to any supporting guidance.

Education

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what its statisticians consider to be the best measure of teacher numbers for 2007-08.

Keith Brown: The updated number of teachers as at the teacher census in September 2007 is published in Teachers in Scotland 2008 , available on the government website at the following link www.scotland.gov.uk/stats/bulletins/00720 .

Education

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason it uses full-time equivalent when it reports annually on teacher numbers.

Keith Brown: Full-time equivalent figures accurately measure the size of the workforce available to schools.

Education

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what recognition and support will be given to the work of the Scottish Parent Teacher Council in providing practical advice and support to parent councils, parent teacher associations, individual parents, local authorities and others involved in education.

Keith Brown: Adam Ingram acknowledged the good work of the Scottish Parent Teacher Council (SPTC) when addressing their 60th anniversary conference last November. A meeting between ministers and representatives of the SPTC is scheduled for next month to discuss their current activities and how they might be involved in the future development of parental support and representation.

Employment

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list how the European Social Fund is being used to encourage the employability of hard-to-reach groups.

Jim Mather: The European Social Fund (ESF) Programmes for 2007 to 2013 are clearly aligned with the government’s economic strategy to create opportunities for all of Scotland to flourish through sustainable economic growth.

  The ESF Lowlands and Uplands Scotland (LUPS) programme covers three main priorities:

  1. Moving people into employment;

  2. Improving skills and productivity of those in work and helping those in danger of redundancy, and

  3. Widening access to post school lifelong learning for key client groups.

  In the Lowlands and Uplands ESF programme the focus of Priority 1 is on offering help to hard-to-reach, workless groups experiencing multiple barriers to entering the labour market. The funds are awarded to organisations running projects which offer a range of tailored support to enable these most disadvantaged people to move into employment or training making a tangible impact on their lives.

  Priority 1 received 46% of the total ESF LUPS funding available which amounts to £107.1 million (at March 2009 euro/sterling rate). There has been a commitment to front load European funding generally, and this Priority in particular in the present economic climate. The Round 2 funding was announced by the First Minister on 18 April 2009, and this brought the commitment of this priority to £81.3 million or 76% of the total allocation.

  So far the ESF projects approved, including £39 million to Community Planning Partnerships, are concentrated on the most disadvantaged groups and specifically include a high proportion of young participants. The projects awarded ESF grants are run by experienced organisations committed to partnership working largely from the third sector, local authorities and further education colleges.

  A full list of the approved projects and grants awarded can be obtained from the Intermediate Administration Body websites. For Lowlands and Uplands Scotland this is www.esep.co.uk and for the Highlands and Islands this is www.hipp.org.uk.

Employment

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it measures the success of community planning partnerships in addressing employability issues.

Fiona Hyslop: Employability sits at the heart of the Scottish Government’s policy agenda and we encourage our partners to adopt the same approach. Scottish Government has been working with Community Planning Partnerships (CPPs) to ensure Local Employability Partnerships are an integral part of the CPP in addressing the wider challenges in the local area including employability. These partnerships bring together all the key decision makers locally to ensure that the resources aimed at employment are themselves utilised to the best possible effect. In total, there are 26 local employability partnerships across Scotland. The Scottish Government is working with the remaining CPPs to ensure they are addressing employability challenges within its forums.

  Also, the Scottish Government is entering into Single Outcome Agreement (SOA) with each CPP. The first SOAs with CPPs – for 2009-10 – are due to be agreed by 1 June 2009. Each SOA sets out ambitions against a series of agreed priority outcomes for the local area in question. CPPs may choose to highlight employability as one of these priority local outcomes. Annual reporting by the CPP to both the Scottish Government and local communities will allow progress towards these local outcomes to be monitored.

Energy

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of sites on the Cumbrian coast opposite Dumfries and Galloway being included on the list of potential sites for nuclear reactors announced by the UK Government on 15 April 2009 and with a consultation period of one month, whether it intends to respond to the consultation or provide comment by another means.

Jim Mather: The Scottish Government has no plans to respond to this consultation as it relates to sites in England and Wales only. The Scottish Government has made clear our position that we do not need or want new nuclear power stations in Scotland. However, the we will be consulted by the UK Government on the impact of new nuclear reactor developments in England as part of existing contingency arrangements.

Energy

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many jobs will be created by the Energy Technology Partnership and the Scottish European Green Energy Centre.

Jim Mather: The Energy Technology Partnership (ETP) is a partnership of Scotland’s universities dedicated to collaborative research across the energy field. The partnership’s members currently employ 250 academics and 650 researchers across several higher education institutions, the largest power and energy grouping of its kind in Europe.

  One of the key strategic objectives of the ETP is to achieve economic benefit for Scotland from its activities, through knowledge exchange, new company formation and working with industry to commercialise its science base. The ETP is actively supporting the creation of indirect jobs in Scotland, through participation in inward and outward trade missions with Scottish Development International and working closely with our colleagues in Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Island Enterprise to develop closer working relationships with the 2500 energy related companies in Scotland.

  The Scottish European Green Energy Centre will create 10 direct and 60 indirect jobs over the next five years. These direct posts will work across the range of activities of the centre, to promote collaborative research opportunities between Scottish companies, universities and their European counterparts; to secure funding for this research, and to disseminate the results of this research across the EU.

  I also refer the member to the answer to question S3W-23078 on 5 May 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx..

Energy

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many research and development posts will be created by the Energy Technology Partnership and the Scottish European Green Energy Centre.

Jim Mather: The Energy Technology Partnership (ETP) is a partnership of Scotland’s universities dedicated to collaborative research across the energy field. The partnership’s members currently employ 250 academics and 650 researchers across several higher education institutions, the largest power and energy grouping of its kind in Europe.

  The ETP continues to seek and attract new funding that is creating additional research and development posts including; winning over £25 million of new funding over the past two years, receiving significant funds from the UK Energy Technologies Institute to recruit new staff and a £6 million grant for a Doctoral Training Centre in Wind Energy that will recruit 10 PhD students every year for five years – 50 PhDs at minimum with potential for augmented numbers. The ETP is also developing a proposal, in discussion with the SFC and a range of energy sector industrial partners, for a "Scottish Energy Research Academy" with, prospectively, 100 PhD students working across different ETP universities and engaging closely with industry.

  For the Scottish European Green Energy Centre I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-23077 on 5 May 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx..

Energy

Aileen Campbell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on the annual consumption of domestic fuel oil in each year since 1999, broken down by (a) parliamentary region and (b) local authority area.

Alex Neil: The Scottish House Condition Survey is the source of official figures for domestic fuel oil consumption of occupied dwellings (This does not include holiday homes and second homes and communal establishments).

  Figures are available for local authorities for 2002, and combined (because of sample size) for the three year period October 2003 to September 2006 (2003-06) and combined for the three year period October 2004 to December 2007 (2004-07).

  Figures are available for Scottish parliamentary regions for 2003-06 and 2004-07. They are not available for 2002 because we no longer hold the sample addresses.

  Table 1 shows the survey estimates for the total amount paid, the number of occupied dwellings using domestic fuel and the average bill by Scottish Parliamentary Region for 2003-06 and 2004-07. Table 2 shows the same but for Local Authorities and includes 2002.

  Please note that as these figures are based on a survey they are only estimates and each estimate is subject to statistical error.

  The relatively high figure for West Dunbartonshire for 2002 is due to a statistical anomaly. In fact only two households in West Dunbartonshire which used domestic fuel oil were included in the survey and both were large oil users.

  Table 1: SHCS estimates for amount paid, the number of domestic fuel households and the average bill by Scottish Parliamentary Region - 2003-06 and 2004-07:

  
Scottish Parliament Region
  2003-06
  2004-07

  Total Paid
  Domestic Oil users
  Average paid
  Total Paid
  Domestic Oil users
  Average paid

  Central Scotland
  2,561,000
  3,000
  1,000
  3,001,000
  3,000
  1,000

  Glasgow
  354,000
  1,000
  700
  341,000
  -
  700

  Highlands and Islands
  41,123,000
  47,000
  900
  41,809,000
  46,000
  900

  Lothians
  2,874,000
  3,000
  900
  2,698,000
  3,000
  900

  Mid Scotland and Fife
  13,919,000
  16,000
  900
  11,859,000
  14,000
  800

  North East Scotland
  30,848,000
  29,000
  1,100
  32,616,000
  30,000
  1,100

  South of Scotland
  25,540,000
  30,000
  800
  25,147,000
  28,000
  900

  West of Scotland
  3,105,000
  4,000
  800
  3,632,000
  4,000
  900

  Unobtainable
  256,000
  -
  1,000
  256,000
  -
  1,000

  Scotland
  120,580,000
  133,000
  900
  121,359,000
  130,000
  900



  Table 2: SHCS estimates for amount paid, the number of domestic fuel households and the average bill by Local Authority for 2002, 2003-06 and 2004-07:

  
  Council Area
  2002
  2003-06

  Total Paid
  Domestic Oil Users
  Average Cost
  Total Paid
  Domestic Oil Users
  Average Cost

  Aberdeen City
  375,000
  1,000
  600
  1,364,000
  1,000
  1,000

  Aberdeenshire
  10,801,000
  18,000
  600
  25,558,000
  24,000
  1,000

  Angus
  1,464,000
  3,000
  500
  4,194,000
  4,000
  1,000

  Argyll and Bute
  3,369,000
  5,000
  700
  7,082,000
  7,000
  1,100

  Clackmannan
  186,000
  -
  600
  203,000
  -
  1,000

  Dumfries and Galloway
  7,011,000
  11,000
  600
  9,490,000
  12,000
  800

  Dundee City
 
  -
  -
 
  -
  -

  East Ayrshire
  764,000
  1,000
  500
  1,005,000
  1,000
  1,200

  East Dunbartonshire
  123,000
  -
  700
  337,000
  -
  1,200

  East Lothian
  683,000
  1,000
  700
  869,000
  2,000
  500

  East Renfrewshire
  324,000
  -
  900
  446,000
  -
  1,200

  Edinburgh City
  200,000
  1,000
  300
  497,000
  1,000
  900

  Western Isles
  2,483,000
  4,000
  600
  4,477,000
  5,000
  800

  Falkirk
  411,000
  1,000
  800
  654,000
  1,000
  900

  Fife
  2,283,000
  3,000
  700
  3,423,000
  4,000
  1,000

  Glasgow City
  95,000
  -
  600
  354,000
  1,000
  700

  Highland
  9,473,000
  15,000
  600
  18,717,000
  24,000
  800

  Inverclyde
  44,000
  -
  200
  306,000
  -
  1,000

  Midlothian
  927,000
  1,000
  1,000
  1,296,000
  1,000
  1,100

  Moray
  2,680,000
  4,000
  600
  6,726,000
  6,000
  1,100

  North Ayrshire
  717,000
  1,000
  500
  1,159,000
  1,000
  800

  North Lanarkshire
  682,000
  1,000
  800
  924,000
  1,000
  1,300

  Orkney
  1,840,000
  3,000
  700
  2,767,000
  3,000
  800

  Perth and Kinross
  2,794,000
  4,000
  700
  5,893,000
  7,000
  800

  Renfrewshire
  172,000
  -
  400
  619,000
  1,000
  900

  Scottish Borders
  2,793,000
  5,000
  500
  6,685,000
  7,000
  1,000

  Shetland
  1,814,000
  3,000
  600
  2,594,000
  3,000
  900

  South Ayrshire
  1,257,000
  2,000
  700
  2,412,000
  3,000
  800

  South Lanarkshire
  2,937,000
  4,000
  800
  5,619,000
  7,000
  800

  Stirling
  1,726,000
  3,000
  600
  3,309,000
  4,000
  900

  West Dunbartonshire
  434,000
  -
  2,400
  76,000
  -
  400

  West Lothian
  981,000
  1,000
  1,000
  1,526,000
  1,000
  1,100

  Scotland
  61,843,000
  97,000
  600
  120,580,000
  133,000
  900



  
 Council Area
 2004-07

 Total Paid
 Domestic Oil Users
 Average Cost

 Aberdeen City
 1,364,000
 1,000
 1,000

 Aberdeenshire
 27,389,000
 26,000
 1,100

 Angus
 3,272,000
 3,000
 1,100

 Argyll and Bute
 6,436,000
 7,000
 1,000

 Clackmannan
 203,000
 -
 1,000

 Dumfries and Galloway
 9,290,000
 12,000
 800

 Dundee City
 
 -
 -

 East Ayrshire
 1,121,000
 1,000
 1,100

 East Dunbartonshire
 615,000
 1,000
 1,100

 East Lothian
 1,341,000
 2,000
 700

 East Renfrewshire
 377,000
 -
 1,900

 Edinburgh City
 303,000
 -
 1,200

 Western Isles
 4,748,000
 6,000
 800

 Falkirk
 915,000
 1,000
 800

 Fife
 3,811,000
 4,000
 1,100

 Glasgow City
 341,000
 -
 700

 Highland
 19,405,000
 23,000
 800

 Inverclyde
 211,000
 -
 1,000

 Midlothian
 1,610,000
 1,000
 1,100

 Moray
 6,890,000
 5,000
 1,300

 North Ayrshire
 1,934,000
 2,000
 1,000

 North Lanarkshire
 1,206,000
 1,000
 1,200

 Orkney
 3,202,000
 4,000
 900

 Perth and Kinross
 4,831,000
 7,000
 700

 Renfrewshire
 474,000
 1,000
 900

 Scottish Borders
 5,772,000
 6,000
 1,000

 Shetland
 2,709,000
 3,000
 900

 South Ayrshire
 2,680,000
 3,000
 800

 South Lanarkshire
 5,030,000
 5,000
 900

 Stirling
 2,518,000
 3,000
 900

 West Dunbartonshire
 76,000
 -
 200

 West Lothian
 1,286,000
 1,000
 1,100

 Scotland
 121,359,000
 130,000
 900

Energy Efficiency

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-21785 by Jim Mather on 25 March 2009, when its proposals for a "significant loan mechanism" to promote energy efficiency will be published.

Jim Mather: Proposals for low interest loans, interest-free loans or equity release schemes for a range of purposes, including investing in homes energy efficiency measures, will come forward later in the year.

European Working Time Directive

Jim Hume (South of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will work with the UK Government and relevant transport agencies to ensure that horse transportation lorries used for the purposes of leisure activities are not classed as commercial HGVs in the context of the EU working time directive.

Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government is in regular contact with the UK Government on a wide range of issues, including transport.

  Horse transportation lorries used for the purposes of leisure activities are not classed as commercial lorries.

  The EU working time directive does not apply to the transportation of pets for non-commercial purposes. Instead the applicable Regulations on drivers hours (Regulation (EC) 561/2006), is aimed at not just commercial lorries but other large vehicles as well. This is directly applicable in all member states, prescribes maximum limits on driving time and minimum requirements for break and rest periods for most drivers of goods vehicles in excess of 3.5 tonnes. It replaced the previous 1985 EU Regulation on 11 April 2007.

  There are a number of exemptions from the EU rules, one of which applies to vehicles not exceeding 7.5 tonnes used for the non-commercial carriage of goods – which would include some privately owned horseboxes. However, for reasons of road safety, drivers of larger privately owned horseboxes continue to fall within scope of the EU rules.

Fertility Services

Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it agrees with the estimate that one in seven couples need help in conceiving and rely on treatment.

Shona Robison: The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) guideline on fertility, published in 2004, estimates that one in seven couples will be affected by fertility problems.

  In the general population – including people with fertility problems – around 92% of couples who are trying to get pregnant do so within two years.

Fertility Services

Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients have received IVF treatment in each of the last five years.

Shona Robison: This information is not collected or held centrally in Scotland as the data is owned by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority.

Fertility Services

Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients have received assisted conception services in each of the last five years.

Shona Robison: This information is not collected or held centrally in Scotland.

Fertility Services

Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware that 80% of couples have been required to pay for assisted conception services because of a lack of NHS provision.

Shona Robison: It is important to distinguish between those who are eligible for NHS treatment and those who do not meet the criteria. Many couples pay for assisted conception services as they are not currently eligible for NHS treatment.

  As there is no data held or collected centrally in Scotland, it is difficult to gather an accurate picture of the numbers involved at present. We are currently considering options on infertility services in Scotland and the barriers to data collection are included in these options.

Fertility Services

Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive on what dates guidance on infertility services was issued to NHS boards in each of the last five years.

Shona Robison: The Report of the Review of Infertility Services in Scotland, including an update in criteria, issued to NHS boards in April 2007.

Fertility Services

Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met the Expert Advisory Group on Infertility Services in Scotland.

Shona Robison: The Expert Advisory Group on Infertility Services in Scotland is no longer an active group and last met in 2003.

Fertility Services

Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made any assessment of the cost of implementing the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines for infertility services.

Shona Robison: The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) clinical guideline, published in 2004, was developed for those who work in or use the NHS in England and Wales. NHS boards in Scotland were given updated criteria in March 2007, which was informed in part by the NICE guideline, and the Expert Advisory Group on Infertility Services in Scotland report.

Fertility Services

Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will set targets for NHS boards to deliver assisted conception services in each board area.

Shona Robison: We are currently considering options for infertility services in Scotland.

Fertility Services

Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what its views are of the six-year waiting time for assisted conception services identified in an Expert Advisory Group on Infertility Services in Scotland report.

Shona Robison: The information on waiting times contained within the report of the Expert Advisory Group on Infertility Services in Scotland dates from 1998. More recent data is contained within the Review of Infertility Services in Scotland which demonstrates that some NHS boards have been able to reduce their waiting times, such as NHS Ayrshire and Arran, NHS Borders and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.

  We know that waiting times for this service vary significantly across the country, and we are currently considering options to address this. The issues underlying waiting times are complex and long standing, but where NHS boards have invested in this service, waiting times have reduced in their area.

Finance

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether guidance has been issued by HM Treasury on the application of International Financial Reporting Standards to the Scottish Government and the broader public sector in Scotland, in particular with regard to the treatment of existing and proposed private finance schemes.

John Swinney: In line with the HM Treasury conversion timetable, the Scottish Government and other central government bodies will prepare and publish International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) based annual accounts from 2009-10. The Scottish Government and other central government bodies are required to follow HM Treasury guidance on accounting and to work within HM Treasury guidance on budgeting under IFRS. We are still awaiting comprehensive final IFRS budgeting guidance from HM Treasury, and therefore the reply focuses on the accounting guidance only.

  The Scottish Government and central government bodies in Scotland will apply International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) in accordance with the Government Financial Reporting Manual (FReM). The FReM is the technical accounting guidance on the preparation of financial statements and is prepared following consultation with the Financial Reporting Advisory Board. The 2009-10 IFRS based FReM provides guidance on IFRS based accounting for private finance schemes and is publicly available at http://www.financial-reporting.gov.uk/

  In the local government sector, IFRS will be fully adopted in financial year 2010-11. However, a phased approach is being adopted and local authorities will account under the IFRS rules for private finance schemes from financial year 2009-10. Local Authorities will continue to account under the Local Government Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) as adapted for IFRS.

Fisheries

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-21810 by Richard Lochhead on 26 March 2009, what enforcement measures it intends to use if fishing quota owners do not sign up to the proposed fishing quota and management licensing system.

Richard Lochhead: The proposals for a Scottish quota management and licensing system would apply to all Scottish vessels and quota holders as defined in the consultation document Safeguarding Our Fishing Rights: The Future of Quota Management and Licensing in Scotland - Interim outcome of consultation report . Non-compliance with fisheries management rules will be dealt with in the normal way.

Fisheries

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S3W-21808 and S3W-21809 by Richard Lochhead on 23 March 2009, for what reasons it is unable to compel Scottish-based fishing quota owners and boats to join the proposed fishing quota and management licensing system.

Richard Lochhead: The proposals for a Scottish quota management and licensing system would apply to all Scottish vessels and quota holders as defined in the consultation document Safeguarding Our Fishing Rights: The Future of Quota Management and Licensing in Scotland - Interim outcome of consultation report .

Fisheries

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S3W-21808 and S3W-21809 by Richard Lochhead on 23 March 2009, what sanctions it will impose on Scottish-based fishing quota owners and boats should they not sign up to the proposed fishing quota management and licensing system.

Richard Lochhead: The proposals for a Scottish quota management and licensing system would apply to all Scottish vessels and quota holders as defined in the consultation document Safeguarding Our Fishing Rights: The Future of Quota Management and Licensing in Scotland - Interim outcome of consultation report .

Fisheries

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-21806 by Richard Lochhead on 26 March 2009, what impacts on business were identified in the regulatory impact assessment.

Richard Lochhead: The Regulatory Impact Assessment published in May 2008, contains an impact summary.

Fisheries

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive in what way the circumstances that impact on the quota settlement for the fishing industry have changed since December 2008.

Richard Lochhead: Total allowable catches (TACs) and quotas are set on the basis of scientific advice from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES). The 2009 quotas were set on the basis of stock assessment advice received from ICES in 2008 and we expect no further advice from ICES until June 2009. That advice will be used as the basis to determine TACs and quotas for 2010.

Fisheries

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions have taken place with the fishing industry regarding the quota settlement.

Richard Lochhead: There are multifarious parts to the quota settlement which impact on the management of fisheries. Since December there has been discussion of many aspects of the settlement in a number of government/industry groups including the Scottish Fisheries Council and its constituent subgroups, the West of Scotland Task Force and the Conservation Credits Group. I have also met with fishing associations across Scotland to hear at first hand how the quota settlement and associated conditions are impacting on fishermen.

Flood Prevention

Jim Hume (South of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in establishing mechanisms within the context of its national food policy to make land available to local authorities for use as allotment space where there is a proven need and desire for such provision.

Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government is working with the Scottish Allotments and Gardens Society representing local allotment groups to help them access land. We are also continuing to explore a range of legal and financial issues associated with making Scottish Government land available to local authorities.

Flood Prevention

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will outline the flood prevention measures and schemes in Tayside that have been implemented, improved or under construction since 2007.

Roseanna Cunningham: This is a matter for Perth and Kinross Council. However, I am aware that since 2007, the council have carried out measures to road drainage in connection with the Milnathort Flood Prevention Scheme, installed a telemetry system in Perth to improve the operational response of the Perth Flood Prevention Scheme in a flood event and has installed a stand-by generator at the pumping station in Weem to improve operational reliability of that Scheme. I understand the council is developing further measures with a view to publishing a flood prevention scheme at Milnathort in the summer and is also developing proposals for flood prevention schemes at Almondbank, Bankfoot, Birnam and Greenloaning.

Health

Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether NHS boards are required to submit plans on implementing guidance to the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing.

Nicola Sturgeon: NHS boards are responsible for the delivery of health care services to their resident population and are expected to take account of the latest clinical evidence and best practice. NHS boards are not routinely expected to submit plans for the implementation of all guidance, although they may be directed to do so in specific circumstances, for example, when guidance is highlighted by a chief executive letter.

Health

Ross Finnie (West of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people were admitted to hospital due to poisoning from (a) androgens and (b) anabolic congeners in each of the last five years, broken down by (i) age and (ii) local authority area.

Nicola Sturgeon: The following table shows the number of patients admitted to Scottish hospitals with poisoning by androgens and anabolic congeners by age group for calendar years 2003 to 2007. The information is given on a national basis in order not to disclose information that may relate to an individual patient.

  
  Age Group
  2003
  2004
  2005
  2006
  2007

  24 and under
  2
  1
  -
  -
  1

  25-44
  4
  2
  1
  2
  3

  45-64
  4
  1
  4
  2
  3

  65 and over
  2
  3
  5
  2
  1

  All ages
  12
  7
  10
  6
  8



  The information in the table has been provided by Information Services Division (ISD).

  Notes:

  1. These statistics are derived from the ISD linked database containing discharge records from non-obstetric and non-psychiatric hospitals in Scotland (SMR01).

  2. Up to six diagnosis (one primary, five secondary) are recorded on SMR01 returns. Poisoning by androgens and anabolic congeners was defined as ICD-10 code T38.7 in any diagnostic position.

  3. Patients with more than one discharge in the year are counted once but may be counted more than once across years.

Health

Ross Finnie (West of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many children have been diagnosed as medically unfit to attend school on the grounds of obesity or obesity-related disorders in each of the last five years.

Adam Ingram: The information requested is not held centrally.

  Tackling unhealthy weight, particularly at an early age, is a high priority for the Scottish Government and we are investing £56 million in initiatives set out in Healthy Eating, Active Living, our three year action plan published in June 2008.

Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what is being done to bring about a national approach to adverse incident reporting in relation to managing the use of medicines in hospitals so that lessons learned from incidents are shared across NHS boards.

Shona Robison: All acute hospitals in Scotland are part of the Scottish Patient Safety Programme which includes a specific strand of work on preventing adverse drug events. In addition, NHS Quality Improvement Scotland is developing proposals to consider the feasibility of a national reporting approach for adverse events, building on the arrangements currently in place across all NHS boards in Scotland.

  In relation to the safety of medicines available on the UK market, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency and the Commission on Human Medicines run the UK’s spontaneous adverse drug reaction reporting scheme, the Yellow Card Scheme. Information about the Scheme can be accessed at www.mhra.gov.uk.

Health

Ross Finnie (West of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been admitted to hospital as a consequence of an allergic reaction to food in each of the last 10 years, broken down by NHS board.

Nicola Sturgeon: Information on the number of people admitted to hospital as a consequence of an allergic reaction to food is presented in the following table:

  Table 1. Number of Patients (All Ages) Admitted to Hospital as a Consequence of an Allergic Food Reaction Over the Last 10 Years, by NHS Health Board of Residence; Years Ending 31 December

  
  Health Board
  Calendar Years

  1999
  2000
  2001
  2002
  2003
  2004
  2005
  2006
  2007
  2008

  Scotland
  342
  291
  323
  287
  288
  346
  331
  324
  348
  376

  Ayrshire and Arran
  29
  23
  29
  34
  17
  27
  24
  42
  27
  30

  Borders
  *
  *
  *
  *
  5
  *
  9
  *
  *
  6

  Dumfries and Galloway
  *
  *
  5
  *
  *
  *
  *
  5
  9
  *

  Fife
  9
  13
  12
  18
  19
  24
  24
  17
  20
  23

  Forth Valley
  26
  13
  12
  13
  17
  18
  12
  12
  21
  35

  Grampian
  118
  59
  93
  88
  92
  117
  78
  72
  85
  82

  Greater Glasgow and Clyde
  34
  44
  45
  28
  40
  34
  42
  47
  49
  58

  Highland
  13
  19
  24
  21
  16
  14
  28
  28
  25
  21

  Lanarkshire
  18
  16
  15
  21
  23
  27
  28
  28
  14
  23

  Lothian
  55
  63
  56
  38
  30
  38
  44
  39
  60
  60

  Orkney
  *
  *
  *
  *
  *
  *
  *
  *
  *
  *

  Shetland
  *
  *
  *
  *
  *
  *
  *
  *
  *
  *

  Tayside
  27
  24
  21
  18
  18
  22
  26
  19
  26
  19

  Western Isles
  *
  *
  6
  *
  7
  11
  12
  8
  *
  11



  Source: Information Services Division Scotland.

  Notes:

  Data for 2008 is provisional.

  *Numbers under five have not been shown as these may be disclosive.

Health

Ross Finnie (West of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many children have been admitted to hospital as a consequence of an allergic reaction to food in each of the last 10 years, broken down by NHS board.

Nicola Sturgeon: Information on the number of children admitted to hospital as a consequence of an allergic reaction to food is presented in the following table.

  Table 1: Numbers of Children (Aged 0 to 16) Admitted to Hospital as a Consequence of an Allergic Food Reaction over the Last 10 Years, by NHS Health Board of Residence; Years Ending 31 December

  
  Health Board
  Calendar Years

  1999
  2000
  2001
  2002
  2003
  2004
  2005
  2006
  2007
  2008

  Scotland
  213
  171
  181
  174
  159
  200
  188
  162
  173
  199

  Ayrshire and Arran
  17
  19
  19
  21
  11
  17
  18
  20
  11
  15

  Borders
  *
  *
  *
  *
  *
  *
  5
  *
  *
  *

  Dumfries and Galloway
  *
  *
  *
  *
  *
  *
  *
  *
  5
  *

  Fife
  *
  7
  6
  12
  8
  13
  9
  8
  8
  10

  Forth Valley
  10
  8
  6
  6
  8
  8
  9
  10
  11
  23

  Grampian
  101
  42
  69
  66
  57
  78
  46
  41
  50
  55

  Greater Glasgow and Clyde
  18
  21
  20
  10
  11
  11
  20
  17
  8
  18

  Highland
  6
  6
  9
  11
  8
  9
  16
  14
  13
  10

  Lanarkshire
  11
  10
  8
  10
  11
  15
  15
  14
  8
  13

  Lothian
  31
  41
  32
  21
  27
  24
  27
  21
  35
  30

  Orkney
  *
  *
  *
  *
  *
  *
  *
  *
  *
  *

  Shetland
  *
  *
  *
  *
  *
  *
  *
  *
  *
  *

  Tayside
  10
  11
  6
  12
  12
  14
  19
  9
  18
  14

  Western Isles
  *
  *
  *
  *
  *
  *
  *
  *
  *
  *



  Source: Information Services Division Scotland.

  Notes:

  Data for 2008 is provisional.

  *Numbers under five have not been shown as these may be disclosive.

Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what is being done to ensure that all appropriate patients have access to a routine post-fracture assessment for osteoporosis and the risk of future fractures.

Nicola Sturgeon: Scottish Intercollegiate Guideline Network (SIGN) Guidelines 71 and 56, on the management of osteoporosis, and the prevention and management of hip fracture in older people respectively, recommend the use of DEXA (Dual Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry) scanning in establishing a diagnosis of osteoporosis. SIGN Guideline 56, which is being revised to take account of the most recent evidence on hip fracture care, recommends that the risk of hip fractures and falls in older people should be assessed and those at increased risk offered multiple interventions. NHS boards are expected to implement these guidelines through local protocols.

  We have also drawn boards’ attention to the findings of an NHS QIS audit, published at the end of 2005, showing the benefits in preventing future osteoporotic fractures by giving patients who have sustained a fracture direct access to DEXA scanning. All NHS boards have access to (DEXA) scanners, of which there are 18 across Scotland, with a further scanner expected to begin operation at the end of the month.

  The Osteoporosis Directed Enhanced Service (DES), introduced in November 2008, provides Scottish GP practices with the incentive to identify women aged 60 and over who have had a fragility fracture and to refer those aged under 75 for a DEXA scan to confirm a diagnosis of osteoporosis. The DES stipulates that bone sparing preventative treatment should be offered to women under 75 who are diagnosed with the condition, and to those over 75 who have sustained a fragility fracture.

  We have been taking forward work on falls and fracture prevention in older people and have published guidance for NHS boards and Community Health Partnerships on actions to prevent falls. NHS Quality Improvement Scotland (NHS QIS) has also appointed a national falls programme manager to establish a network of local falls co-ordinators and share best practice.

Healthcare Associated Infection

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason children involved with the criminal justice system as victims or witnesses are not allocated safeguarders as they would under the children’s hearing system.

Kenny MacAskill: The option to appoint a safeguarder is only available for children who are referred to a Children’s Hearing. Where children are called as witnesses in court proceedings a number of measures can be used in the court to provide for their support and protection. All child witnesses are also entitled to the measures provided for in the Vulnerable Witnesses (Scotland) Act 2004. As child victims and child prosecution witnesses they will also be referred to the Victim Information and Advice service of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.

Healthcare Associated Infection

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-20313 by Nicola Sturgeon on 9 February 2009, whether the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing received reports from Strathclyde Police, the area procurator fiscal or the Crown Counsel in March 2009 on the deaths from Clostridium difficile at the Vale of Leven Hospital.

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-20313 by Nicola Sturgeon on 9 February 2009, when it expects the report on the deaths from Clostridium difficile at the Vale of Leven hospital to be available, given that the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing stated, at a meeting with the C. diff Justice Group in December 2008, that it was expected to conclude in March 2009.

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the commitment made by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing at a meeting with the C. diff Justice Group in December 2008 to consider a public inquiry into the deaths from Clostridium difficile at the Vale of Leven hospital if there was a delay in receiving a final report from the Crown Counsel, whether it will now grant a public inquiry.

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it anticipates receiving a report from the Crown Counsel on the deaths from Clostridium difficile at the Vale of Leven hospital and whether this will be an interim or final report.

Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the statement I made to Parliament on 22 April 2009 when I confirmed that there will be a Public Inquiry into the Clostridium difficile outbreak at the Vale of Leven following the conclusion of on-going police and Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigations.

Healthcare Associated Infection

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there has been a recent incident of Clostridium difficile at the Edinburgh Western General Hospital and, if so, how many patients have been affected and what additional measures have been taken to contain the infection.

Nicola Sturgeon: NHS Lothian has confirmed that there has been no recent incident of Clostridium difficile at the Western General Hospital. NHS Lothian has an upper control limit of two cases in one ward per week. Any breaches of the upper control limit triggers investigation by the Infection Control Team. Between October 2008 and March 2009 there were no breaches of the upper control limit. As an additional precaution, however, the Infection Control Team investigated eight incidences between October 2008 and March 2009 where wards reported above two cases in one calendar month. No incidences of cross infection were identified in any of these investigations.

Healthcare Associated Infection

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many of the new cleaning staff announced by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing at the SNP conference on 17 April 2009 will be allocated to NHS Lanarkshire.

Nicola Sturgeon: NHS Lanarkshire has been allocated funding for 38 whole-time equivalent domestic staff.

Healthcare Associated Infection

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many of the new cleaning staff announced by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing at the SNP conference on 17 April 2009 will be allocated to the State Hospital.

Nicola Sturgeon: The State Hospital has been allocated funding for two whole-time equivalent domestic staff.

Healthcare Associated Infection

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers the containment of Clostridium difficile spores to be a priority and, if so, what guidance it offers on containment measures.

Nicola Sturgeon: Clostridium difficile spores represent the main source of cross infection with the organism and their containment is, therefore, a top priority. Health Protection Scotland (HPS) issued guidance in October 2008 titled Guidance on Prevention and Control of Clostridium difficile Associated Disease (CDAD) in Healthcare Settings in Scotland which details the measures to be taken to prevent the spread of clostridium difficile, such as isolation of symptomatic patients, hand hygiene, environmental cleaning, personal protective equipment and the safe management of linen and waste.

  This guidance can be found on the HPS website at:

  http://www.documents.hps.scot.nhs.uk/hai/sshaip/guidelines/clostridium-difficile/guidance-cdad-2008-10.pdf.

Healthcare Associated Infection

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what role it considers that personal antibacterial products have in reducing the incidence of healthcare associated infections.

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to implement Rapid Review Panel products in its strategy to reduce healthcare associated infections.

Nicola Sturgeon: Products which receive the recommendation of the Health Protection Agency’s Rapid Review Panel (RRP) will be automatically considered for possible use in NHS Scotland by the HAI Commodities Advisory Group. This is a strategic group hosted by National Procurement, which meets six monthly but operates an e-mail discussion group between meetings. The group oversees the use of HAI related commodities within NHS Scotland and brings the process of review and procurement of products together through the application of a single national systematic approach and process.

Healthcare Associated Infection

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the review of the Guidance on Prevention and Control of Clostridium difficile Associated Disease (CDAD) in Healthcare Settings in Scotland , published in October 2008 by Health Protection Scotland and due for review in March 2009, will be published.

Nicola Sturgeon: Health Protection Scotland (HPS) have confirmed the review will be published in September 2009 and in the meantime that the current guidance remains extant.

Healthcare Associated Infection

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-21171 by Nicola Sturgeon on 17 March 2009, in respect of hand hygiene, when it is correct for NHS staff to use (a) the agent provided and water only, (b) the agent provided and water or alcohol gel and (c) alcohol gel alone.

Nicola Sturgeon: The Health Protection Scotland (HPS) guidance on hand hygiene is reviewed annually. It can be accessed through the following web link, and confirms that:

  http://www.hps.scot.nhs.uk/haiic/ic/guidelinedetail.aspx?id=31220.

  If hands have patient/client contact before or during a procedure, but are not soiled with any body fluids and, therefore, do not require re-hand washing with soap or an antiseptic hand cleanser, alcohol based hand rub can be used;

  Any soilage/organic matter can inactivate the activity of alcohol and, therefore, re-hand washing in these circumstances is essential;

  Where infection with a spore forming organism e.g. Clostridium difficile is suspected/proven it is recommended that hand hygiene is carried out with liquid soap and water although it can be followed by alcohol based hand rub, and

  Where infection with a viral gastroenteritis e.g. Norovirus is suspected/proven it is important that hand hygiene is carried out with liquid soap and water although it can be followed by alcohol-based hand rub.

Healthcare Associated Infection

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-22508 by Nicola Sturgeon on 23 April 2009, whether it will publish the outcome of the review by NHS Quality Improvement Scotland of the clinical governance arrangements in place across NHS Orkney.

Nicola Sturgeon: NHS Quality Improvement Scotland (QIS) has confirmed the report will be published on its website by end June 2009.

Healthcare Associated Infection

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-22508 by Nicola Sturgeon on 23 April 2009, what would trigger an investigation into the incidence of Clostridium difficile at NHS Orkney and whether this was applied in the recent outbreak.

Nicola Sturgeon: National guidance requires the setting of local trigger thresholds for each clinical area. Following the recent outbreak these are now in place across NHS Orkney and have been set at two cases for each ward within any 30 day period.

Healthcare Associated Infection

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-22508 by Nicola Sturgeon on 23 April 2009, for what reasons there was a delay of one month before it was notified of the outbreak of Clostridium difficile in NHS Orkney.

Nicola Sturgeon: There was an unacceptable delay before NHS Orkney notified the Scottish Government of the Clostridium difficile outbreak. NHS Orkney has accepted this and their lines of communication have been completely revised to ensure any future incidents are reported quickly.

Healthcare Associated Infection

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-22508 by Nicola Sturgeon on 23 April 2009, what ribotype of Clostridium difficile was identified in the outbreak in NHS Orkney.

Nicola Sturgeon: There were six cases ribotyped, broken down as follows:

  
  Ribotype
  Cases

  015
  1

  027
  4

  078
  1



  Ribotyping is not available for the other cases because the sample was either culture negative or no culture was grown.

Higher Education

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether its preference is for a Scotland-wide agreement on changes to university statutes regarding university staff employment conditions.

Fiona Hyslop: Scottish ministers are keen to see early resolution on replacing the current outdated employment statute for academic staff which is part of the governance arrangements of the pre 1992 Scottish universities. We are strongly supportive of the discussions which have been on-going for sometime at a national level between the eight pre 1992 universities and the University and College Union and are disappointed that it has not been possible to reach an agreed position on a revised statute.

Higher Education

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider requesting that the Privy Council delay its decisions on the proposed amendments to the charter and statutes of individual institutions until it has received proposals from the eight pre-1992 universities.

Fiona Hyslop: The Privy Council seeks Scottish ministers advice in light of applications it receives from individual institutions. The University of Stirling is the only Scottish institution which has applied to the Privy Council to make amendments to its academic staff employment statute. This has been referred to Scottish ministers who are currently considering the details of the proposals which were approved by the university’s governing body following consultation.

Homecoming Scotland

Stuart McMillan (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what is being done to help organisations and groups throughout Scotland gain access to promotional materials relevant to the Homecoming Scotland celebrations.

Jim Mather: It is straightforward for people to obtain suitable promotional materials at no cost that are relevant to the Homecoming Scotland celebrations. Individuals, organisations or groups can order promotional material either by contacting the Homecoming team directly at EventScotland’s offices, or by ordering them through the Homecoming website. These links are displayed prominently on the website and have been promoted through all Homecoming communications activity, including regular e-communications to key groups and organisations around Scotland, the UK and the world.

  Promotional materials can also be obtained through the country’s network of VisitScotland Information Centres, where small amounts of stock can be supplied directly.

  Key partners in the promotion of Homecoming are local authorities and every council holds stocks of material for local distribution.

Housing

Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how it is ensuring that surplus land available for sale that can be used for affordable housing is identified.

Alex Neil: Both land use planning and Local Housing Strategies are the responsibility of local authorities, therefore they have primary responsibility in matching surplus land and affordable housing. I have recently written to a wide range of public sector bodies, including all local authorities, expressing my presumption that, for all public surplus land, the local percentage for affordable housing will apply. My officials will shortly be speaking to those councils who have some of the biggest challenges on housing supply on how they and their partners deal with surplus land.

Housing

Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of new housing development was reserved for affordable housing in 2008-09.

Alex Neil: This question cannot be answered directly. However, there are a number of sources which can be combined to provide information on the extent of affordable housing in Scotland:

  1. The Affordable Housing Securing Planning Consent Survey is an annual survey which records the number of affordable houses securing planning consent in each financial year. The latest data available is for 2007-08 and shows that planning consent was granted for 6,216 affordable homes. This number cannot be presented as a percentage as there are no centrally held equivalent figures for all new housing developments.

  2. The Housing Statistics for Scotland web tables contain detailed information on new build starts and completions. They are available online at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Housing-Regeneration/HSfS/NewBuild.

  In addition to these published tables, there are figures available on the number of private new build approvals and completions which receive public subsidy through the Affordable Housing Investment Programme. Table 1 shows that 22% of starts/approvals and 16% of completions were affordable in 2007-08. Figures on affordable housing provided via private developer contributions under Section 75 agreements are excluded from the table as there is currently no mechanism to separately identify this type of affordable housing.

  Table 1 – Estimated Affordable Housing as a Percentage of All New-Build

  
 
  Starts
  Completions

  All new house building
  26,614
  25,774

  Housing association new build *
  5,261
  4,097

  Local authority new build
  432
  28

  Private new build receiving AHIP funding*
  56
  110

  Estimated affordable housing
  5,749
  4,235

  Affordable housing as a % of all new build
  22%
  16%



  Sources: NB1 and NB2 returns by local authorities to the Scottish Government Affordable Housing Investment Programme.

  Note: *Information on date of approval is used as a proxy for start date.

Housing

Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how it ensures that need is identified in the affordable and community rented sector and that house building and housing improvements are appropriate to the needs of each area.

Alex Neil: The Scottish Government published new guidance for local authorities on housing need and demand assessment in March 2008. As part of reforms to the housing and planning delivery framework these assessments now inform local authorities’ local housing strategies and development plans, and will help ensure that the right number of houses of the right type and tenure are provided in the right place.

  Local authorities are responsible for deciding the private sector house condition improvements appropriate to their areas under the relevant housing legislation. The policy of each authority will be contained in its local housing strategy. The Scottish Housing Quality Standard sets out the standards that all homes in the social rented sector are expected to meet by 2015.

International Relations

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussion it has had with COSLA regarding town-twinning.

Michael Russell: There have been no recent discussions with COSLA regarding town-twinning. The Scottish Government has no role or locus in twinning arrangements and decisions rest with each local authority.

Livestock

Jim Hume (South of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many meetings have taken place between the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment and EU ministers regarding electronic identification for sheep in the last six months.

Richard Lochhead: Electronic identification for sheep was discussed at the Agriculture and Fisheries Council of 23 March 2009.

Livestock

Jim Hume (South of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment last met EU ministers to discuss electronic identification for sheep.

Richard Lochhead: I last met with EU ministers on the 23 March to discuss electronic identification for sheep at the Agriculture and Fisheries Council. I also discussed this issue directly with Commissioner Vassiliou at this time.

Livestock

Jim Hume (South of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment last met farming industry representatives to discuss electronic identification for sheep.

Richard Lochhead: I often meet with farming representatives where electronic identification for sheep is regularly discussed. The last time I spoke directly on this issue was 23 March 2009.

Livestock

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive who is responsible for the removal of dead livestock from agricultural land.

Richard Lochhead: The disposal of fallen stock is controlled by the Animal By-Products (Scotland) Regulations 2003, which require those who possess or control animal by-products, including fallen stock, to dispose of such material in an approved manner and without undue delay.

Malnutrition

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) children and (b) adults were admitted to hospital as a result of malnutrition in each year since 2006, broken down by NHS board.

Nicola Sturgeon: Centrally held information can provide details of patients where malnutrition is identified on their hospital records. However, these figures may underestimate the actual number of cases, because malnutrition as an underlying reason for admission to hospital may not always be recorded as such or coded by coding staff.

  The definition of malnutrition used to produce these figures includes diagnoses of anorexia nervosa, nutritional deficiencies (e.g. vitamin A, thiamine and calcium deficiencies), nutritional anaemias and malnutrition related diabetes mellitus.

  The following tables show the number of patients (adults and children) discharged from acute hospitals in Scotland with a diagnosis of malnutrition, broken down by NHS board of residence and age group.

  Table 1: Numbers of Adults Discharged with a Diagnosis of Malnutrition, by NHS Board of Residence, Years Ending 31 March 2007 and 2008

  
  Health Board
  2007
  2008

  Ayrshire and Arran
  114
  123

  Borders
  55
  59

  Dumfries and Galloway
  75
  120

  Fife
  129
  154

  Forth Valley
  46
  29

  Grampian
  104
  115

  Greater Glasgow and Clyde
  529
  425

  Highland
  131
  115

  Lanarkshire
  190
  168

  Lothian
  437
  430

  Orkney Islands
  6
  7

  Shetland Islands
  7
  8

  Tayside
  73
  75

  Western Isles
  12
  6

  Scotland
  1,908
  1,834



  Source Information Services Division (ISD) Scotland.

  Table 2: Numbers of Children Discharged with a Diagnosis of Malnutrition by NHS Board of Residence, Years Ending 31 March 2007 and 2008

  
  Health Board
  2007
  2008

  Ayrshire and Arran
  *
  *

  Borders
  *
  *

  Dumfries and Galloway
  *
  *

  Fife
  *
  *

  Forth Valley
  *
  *

  Grampian
  *
  5

  Greater Glasgow and Clyde
  7
  9

  Highland
  *
  5

  Lanarkshire
  8
  6

  Lothian
  6
  14

  Orkney Islands
  *
  *

  Shetland Islands
  *
  *

  Tayside
  5
  *

  Western Isles
  *
  *

  All Scotland
  38
  51



  Source Information Services Division (ISD) Scotland.

  Note: *Numbers under five have not been shown, as these may be disclosive.

Marine Environment

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it considers appropriate to manage spatial conflict in the marine environment and whether those measures should include the provision of financial compensation.

Richard Lochhead: Marine planning should provide the main mechanism for managing spatial conflict in the marine environment. In general it would not be expected that financial compensation would be paid as part of the process of resolving conflict.

Mortality

Nicol Stephen (Aberdeen South) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on the number of deaths from chronic liver disease and liver cirrhosis since 1950, broken down by NHS board.

Nicola Sturgeon: The numbers of deaths from various causes, broken down by NHS board, are published annually by the General Register Office for Scotland (GROS). Preliminary figures for 2008 are available from Table P6 of Births Marriages and Deaths - Preliminary Annual Figures:

  http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/statistics/publications-and-data/preliminary-return/2008-preliminary-return.html.

  These figures are provisional, pending the publication of the Registrar General’s Annual Report for 2008, which is scheduled to appear in August 2009.

  For each year from 2001 to 2007 figures are given in Table 6.3 of the relevant edition of the Vital Events Reference Tables:

  http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/statistics/publications-and-data/vital-events/index.html.

  Prior to 2001 the corresponding figures for each of a number of earlier years were published in the relevant editions of the Annual Report of the Registrar General for Scotland. Those figures for 1996 to 2000 are available online:

  http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/statistics/publications-and-data/annual-report-publications/index.html.

  Figures are not available by health board before 1974.

  For ease of reference, and because of the size of the table showing deaths from liver disease by health board from 1974-2008, a copy of this table has been deposited in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 47936).

NHS Services

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-22508 by Nicola Sturgeon on 23 April 2009, whether NHS Orkney has an antimicrobial prescribing policy in place; when this was adopted, and how it has been implemented.

Nicola Sturgeon: NHS Orkney introduced a draft antimicrobial policy in February 2009 and this was formally adopted in April 2009. An antimicrobial team has been established to audit compliance with the policy, and an antimicrobial pharmacist is in post and has the responsibility for ensuring day to day delivery of the policy.

NHS Services

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what patient transport costs were incurred directly by NHS (a) Highland, (b) Grampian, (c) Western Isles, (d) Orkney and (e) Shetland in each of the last five years.

Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government do not hold centrally the amount each NHS board spends on patient transport costs.

NHS Services

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what costs were incurred by NHS (a) Highland, (b) Grampian, (c) Western Isles, (d) Orkney and (e) Shetland for the use of taxis for patient transport in each of the last five years.

Nicola Sturgeon: This information is not held centrally by the Scottish Government.

NHS Staff

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will ensure that no employee of the NHS Scotland is paid less than £7 per hour.

Nicola Sturgeon: NHS pay is considered on a UK wide basis through the Pay Review Body process which makes recommendations for the consideration of UK ministers and ministers in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. There are no immediate UK wide plans to introduce a £7 per hour minimum wage across the NHS. However, based on the current three year pay deal in place for Agenda for Change staff then from April 2011, it is unlikely that any pay point will be below £7 per hour.

NHS Staff

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many employees of NHS Tayside receive pay point 1 or pay point 2 and what percentage of the workforce they comprise.

Nicola Sturgeon: Under the terms of the UK-wide Agenda for Change agreement, current numbers of employees within NHS Tayside who receive either pay point 1 or pay point 2 are as follows:

  
  Total Number of Employees at 30.09.08 (excluding GPs and GDPs)
  Number of Employees currently on pay points 1 and 2 of Agenda for Change
  Numbers of Employees on pay points 1 and 2 expressed as a percentage of total number of employees

  13,607
  834
  6%



  Pay point 1 is currently £6.76 per hour and pay point 2 is £6.94 per hour. Both are significantly above the national minimum wage.

NHS Staff

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions its health directorates and health ministers have had with Grampian NHS in light of the reported 34% European working time directive compliance level as at December 2008.

Nicola Sturgeon: Scottish Government is committed to helping NHS Scotland boards to reach compliance with the Working Time Regulations for their doctors in training. We are actively involved with all boards through discussions and written communications.

  In January 2009 the Director General Health and Chief Executive NHS Scotland held a video conference with the Chief Executive of NHS Grampian to discuss the board’s progress against key actions including its plans for reaching compliance with the Working Time Regulations by August 2009. In addition, the Scottish Government Working Time Advisers have met with NHS Grampian officials and provided practical support and guidance in order to help them achieve compliance.

  Significant progress towards compliance is being made by boards across Scotland. Recently, Chief Executives have received guidance on calculating Working Time Regulation compliance over a 26 week reference period and they are required to report the extent of compliance to the Scottish Government on a regular basis. These data will provide an up to date picture of the progress being made in Grampian and other boards and will facilitate the effective targeting of further assistance by the Scottish Government.

NHS Waiting Times

Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to assist NHS boards to implement its guidance in areas where waiting times have reached unacceptable levels.

Shona Robison: We will shortly be writing to NHS boards who have not yet implemented the guidance to better understand why this is the case and to ask if there is anything they can learn from NHS boards who have fully implemented the guidance.

  We know that waiting times for this service vary significantly across the country, and we are currently considering options to address this. The issues underlying waiting times are complex and long standing, but where NHS boards have invested in this service, waiting times have reduced in their area.

National Health Service

Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it can take when its guidance is not implemented by NHS boards.

Nicola Sturgeon: NHS boards are subject to on-going performance management by the Scottish Government Health Directorates and are required to formally account to ministers at their Annual Accountability Review.

National Parks

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what investment there will be for Blair Atholl to promote itself as the southern gateway to the enlarged Cairngorms National Park.

Roseanna Cunningham: Business partnerships already exist which will be able to build on the opportunities of being in the Cairngorms National Park, and I understand that discussions have taken place between these groups and the Blair Atholl Tourism Association. Local businesses can apply in partnership to Visit Scotland’s Growth Fund to support marketing.

  On adoption of the revised boundary, the Cairngorms National Park Authority will install a prominent boundary marker on the A9 entry point to the National Park as well as a range of other signage. A proposal for an information point is also currently under consideration with funding from a range of partners.

Planning

Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how it is ensuring the best use of the planning process in order to ensure that house building permissions are appropriate to the housing needs of each community.

Alex Neil: The Scottish Government published Scottish Planning Policy 3 Planning for Homes in July 2008 which provides guidance for local authorities. It explains how housing need and demand assessments provide the evidence base for housing allocations in local authorities’ development plans. Taking account of need and demand, authorities should provide a generous supply of land suitable and available for building the required housing through the development plan. The development plan will then form the basis for determining individual planning applications.

Prison Service

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many incidents of alleged racism have been recorded in prisons in each of the last five years, broken down by institution.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  The following table shows all recorded prisoner related racial incidents from the last five years broken down by Establishments. This data is as of 21 April 2009.

  
 
  2005
  2006
  2007
  2008
  2009

  Aberdeen
  0
  0
  0
  1
  0

  Barlinnie
  0
  2
  0
  2
  1

  Cornton Vale
  0
  0
  0
  4
  0

  Edinburgh
  0
  0
  0
  1
  1

  Kilmarnock
  0
  1
  0
  4
  1

  Perth
  0
  0
  0
  1
  0

Public Transport

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken to promote salary sacrifice schemes for bus passes.

Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government Travel Plan includes a commitment to increase the percentage of staff commuting to work by walking, cycling and public transport. In March 2009 we implemented a salary sacrifice for the purchase of bicycles for the commute to work for Scottish Government staff. Work is on-going to investigate the possibility of using a salary sacrifice scheme for annual season tickets for bus.

  In actively supporting such schemes, we would hope other employers also consider salary sacrifice schemes for all forms of travel to work including bus passes. The Scottish Government has also issued guidance providing advice to employers about developing a bus salary sacrifice scheme.

Public Transport

Mike Pringle (Edinburgh South) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how much Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) spent on supporting heavy rail passenger services, excluding capital costs, in the last year for which information is available; how many passengers travelled on SPT-supported heavy rail passenger services in that year, and what the highest level of support provided by the SPT to a single route was, excluding capital costs, in that year.

Stewart Stevenson: The last full year in which Strathclyde Partnership for Transport’s (SPT) predecessor organisation, Strathclyde Passenger Transport, supported the heavy rail franchise in their area was 2004-05. Responsibility for these services passed to Scottish ministers in November 2005.

  Detailed figures are a matter for SPT, but we understand that the cost of supporting the franchise in 2004-05 was £118.217 million, excluding capital costs. Patronage on the Strathclyde network for that year was 45.49 million passengers. Support was provided across the network as a whole, and was not broken down by route.

Public Transport

Mike Pringle (Edinburgh South) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how much the Scottish Government or Transport Scotland spent on supporting heavy rail passenger services, excluding capital costs, in the last year for which information is available; how many passengers travelled on Scottish Government or Transport Scotland supported heavy rail passenger services in that year, and what the highest level of support provided by the Scottish Government or Transport Scotland was, excluding capital costs, to a single route in that year.

Stewart Stevenson: Franchise payments from Transport Scotland, as part of the Scottish Government, to Network Rail and ScotRail in support of heavy rail passenger services totalled £690 million for 2008-09. ScotRail passenger numbers totalled 83.94 million for 2008-09. The franchise payment to ScotRail is for delivering the terms of the Franchise Agreement including the services specified. This payment is not broken down by route. The Network Rail payment is for the operation, maintenance and renewal of the existing network, and similarly is not broken down by route.

Public Transport

Mike Pringle (Edinburgh South) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether First ScotRail services or services supported by the Strathclyde Partnership for Transport are in receipt of publicly funded revenue support and, if so, how much has been provided and in what capacity.

Stewart Stevenson: The ScotRail Franchise Agreement is in place between Scottish ministers and First ScotRail Limited. The contract specifies the train services to be operated by ScotRail including services in the Strathclyde Partnership for Transport area. In addition to specifying the train services the franchise contains obligations to provide all of the services and functions necessary to support the delivery of train services required of an experienced operator. First ScotRail Ltd receives franchise payments from Scottish Government in accordance with the terms of the Franchise Agreement which is worth £2.5 billion over the 10 years of the agreement from 2004 to 2014.

Public Transport

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many offences on public transport were recorded by Grampian Police in 2008, broken down by type of offence and mode of transport.

Kenny MacAskill: This information is not held centrally.

  The Scottish Government does not hold individualised data on any crimes or offences recorded by the eight police forces in Scotland, and as such does not hold information on the victims of crimes or the location at which the crime took place. It is not therefore possible to identify the number of offences on public transport recorded by Grampian Police in 2008.

Public Transport

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many offences on public transport were recorded by Grampian police in 2007, broken down by type of offence and mode of transport.

Kenny MacAskill: This information is not held centrally.

  The Scottish Government does not hold individualised data on any crimes or offences recorded by the eight police forces in Scotland, and as such does not hold information on the victims of crimes or the location at which the crime took place. It is not therefore possible to identify the number of offences on public transport recorded by Grampian Police in 2007.

Public Transport

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what its assessment is of the increase in the number of crimes involving violence on public transport in the north east in 2008 as reported in The Press and Journal on 22 April 2009 and what action it intends to take.

Kenny MacAskill: Grampian Police are working closely with First UK to address incidents of violence and antisocial behaviour in or around buses. The British Transport Police work with train operators to address crimes on the rail network.

  The Scottish Government attaches the greatest importance to the safety of all passengers and public transport staff. We are working in partnership with local authorities, transport operators and others on a range of deterrent and enforcement measures to make public transport safer. Transport operators and the police will continue to have our full support in dealing with any incidents.

Public Transport

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to tackle violence against (a) staff and (b) passengers on public transport.

Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government attaches great importance to the safety of all passengers and public transport staff. It continues to work in partnership with local authorities, transport operators and others on a range of deterrent and enforcement measures to make public transport safer. Transport operators and the police will continue to have our full support in dealing with any incidents.

  Automatic ticket barriers at key rail stations provide security to the network and Scottish ministers have invested in a number of initiatives to improve security including help points, which are now installed at every station, and a programme of Closed Circuit TV and lighting improvements.

  The Scottish Government also provides funding to the Scottish Centre for Healthy Working Lives for its campaign to protect public service workers from violence.

Rail Network

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the expected start date for the Waverley railway project remains as 2010.

Stewart Stevenson: The Borders Railway remains on target to commence with main construction works during the life of this Parliament, in line with my previous statement to Parliament on 5 March 2008. Transport Scotland is already progressing with the delivery of advance works during 2009 and 2010.

Rail Network

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether market-testing discussions with contractors relating to construction work for the Waverley railway project are about the Waverley to Gorebridge section or the whole route.

Stewart Stevenson: All market-testing discussions have been related to the whole route, from Edinburgh Waverley to Tweedbank.

Rail Network

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what conclusions have been reached from the latest market-testing discussions regarding the Waverley railway project between Transport Scotland and contractors.

Stewart Stevenson: Market testing discussions with contractors undertaken during August 2008 established that there is sufficient market appetite for the project and that the private sector is capable of delivering the required outcome.

Rail Network

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide an update on the market interest in the Waverley railway project.

Stewart Stevenson: An update on market interest will be made available at the appropriate stage in the Official Journal of the European Union  (OJEU) procurement process.

Rail Network

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive for what reasons it did not hold the planned event with potential bidders for the Waverley railway project in 2008 and when this event will take place.

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive for what reasons the publication of the official notice advertising the contract for the Waverley railway project has been delayed until May 2009.

Stewart Stevenson: Due to unprecedented changes in the economic climate, it as agreed by the Borders Railway Project Board that it was not prudent to hold the Market Information Day until further market testing had taken place to ensure best value for money could be achieved.

Rail Network

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the report on the Waverley railway project for Transport Scotland by Cyril Sweet, whether all the concerns about the technical and financial elements of the business case have been addressed.

Stewart Stevenson: The technical and financial issues raised in the Cyril Sweet report have been addressed.

Rail Network

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been spent on land acquisition in connection with the Waverley railway project and whether the land acquisition has been completed.

Stewart Stevenson: £6.8 million has been spent to date on land acquisition for the Borders Railway Project. Land assembly has been substantially completed with all land required to build the railway now purchased. A small number of ancillary plots adjacent to the route remain to be purchased. These are on schedule to be acquired during 2009. The assembly of rights of access and servitude will be formally initiated during the procurement phase.

Rail Network

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether provision has been made in the revised costings for the Waverley railway project for buying the land needed to connect the new line to existing tracks.

Stewart Stevenson: Yes, provision has been made.

Rail Network

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether Network Rail has agreed to connect the Waverley railway project to the rail network; what costs have been identified, and who is responsible for meeting these costs.

Stewart Stevenson: Network Rail has agreed to connect the Borders Railway to the existing rail network. The requirement to facilitate the connection to the main network was set out in the High Level Output Statement (HLOS) which details what Ministers require Network Rail to deliver between 2009 and 2014. This has subsequently been included in Network Rail’s Strategic Business Plan and associated Control Period 4 Delivery Plan (2009).

  A sum of £3 million has been allowed in the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) Periodic Review (2008) for Network Rail’s part in the delivery of the Borders Railway.

Rail Network

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the estimated cost of the Waverley railway project remains as between £235 and £295 million.

Stewart Stevenson: Yes. I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-15552 on 10 September 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx..

Rail Network

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the delay in advertising the contract for the Waverley railway project will result in extra costs.

Stewart Stevenson: No additional costs are expected in advertising the contract for the Borders Railway project at a later date than previously anticipated.

Rail Network

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-20117 by Stewart Stevenson on 30 January 2009, whether it will provide up-to-date information on projected (a) patronage levels and (b) train timetables for the Waverley railway project.

Stewart Stevenson: (a) The latest opening year patronage levels for the Borders Railway is estimated to be approximately 700,000 return journeys per year;

  (b) It is too early to state the exact timetable for the Borders Railway other than to confirm trains will run on a half-hourly basis.

Rail Network

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the latest benefit-to-cost ratio is for the Waverley railway project and whether these estimates have been affected by the current economic downturn and problems in the financial markets.

Stewart Stevenson: The latest Benefit-to-Cost Ratio (BCR) for the Borders Railway is 1.36 following recent changes in the Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance (STAG) to the way in which the BCR is calculated. Sensitivity testing has demonstrated that the business case remains resilient despite the economic downturn, as it is calculated over a 60 year appraisal period in accordance with the STAG.

Renewable Energy

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-21484 by Jim Mather on 13 March 2009, whether its renewables action plan will include an analysis of the (a) types of jobs and (b) industries that will benefit from the actions outlined in the plan.

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-21484 by Jim Mather on 13 March 2009, whether its renewables action plan will provide a more exact figure for the number of renewable energy-related jobs to be created over the next decade.

Jim Mather: The Scottish Government is working with Scottish Enterprise and key industry stakeholders to provide range estimates by sector for the number of jobs associated with harnessing the potential of Scotland’s renewable energy resource.

  The action plan will reflect this analysis, which is proving to be subject to constant change as industry responds to wider market conditions and continues to develop new technology.

Renewable Energy

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will clarify its guidelines for the evaluation of the significant long-term detrimental impact of wind farm proposals on the amenity of people living nearby proposed sites.

Stewart Stevenson: Development plans or supplementary planning guidance should use broad criteria to set out the issues to be addressed by developers. Planning application and, where appropriate, environmental impact assessment procedures should identify the impacts that are likely to arise as a result of development and how these are to be addressed. It is then for the decision-maker to judge on a case-by-case basis whether individual proposals will have a significant long-term detrimental impact.

Renewable Energy

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the separation distance recommended in Scottish Planning Policy SPP 6: Renewable Energy between wind turbines and the edge of towns and villages also includes settlements and single dwellings.

Stewart Stevenson: The 2km separation distance applies to cities, towns and villages. Its purpose is to guide planning authorities in identifying broad areas of search in their development plans or supplementary planning guidance for wind farm proposals over 20 megawatts. SPP 6 also confirms that planning authorities should use broad criteria to ensure that proposals are not permitted if they would have a significant long-term detrimental impact on the amenity of people living nearby. This principle applies equally to all dwellings, whether within or outwith broad areas of search.

Roads

John Farquhar Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-21885 by Stewart Stevenson on 2 April 2009, whether it will set out its timetable for design and consultative stages in relation to the dualling of the A9 and on what date a comprehensive plan will be available.

Stewart Stevenson: Design work is currently underway to improve the A9 by dualling between Birnam and Luncarty. In addition, the current investment programme provides for improvements and reconstruction schemes at Kincraig, Loch Moy, Bankfoot, Carrbridge, Kincraig to Dalraddy, Slochd and Kindallachan as well as providing for a doubling of the length of the dual carriageway section at Crubenmore.

  The Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR) provides a robust framework of prioritised schemes, the delivery of which will be considered in future spending reviews.

  A timetable for undertaking work associated with the dualling of the A9 will be set in the context of overall affordability and our commitments to other STPR proposals.

Roads

John Farquhar Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-21885 by Stewart Stevenson on 2 April 2009, whether it will set out its timetable for design and consultative stages in relation to the upgrading of the A82 and when a comprehensive plan will be available.

Stewart Stevenson: This government is committed to upgrading the A82 on a continuing and progressive basis as a key priority and improvements at Pulpit Rock and a bypass for Crianlarich are already planned within the current programme.

  The Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR) provides a robust framework of prioritised schemes, the delivery of which will be considered in future spending reviews.

  A timetable for undertaking work associated with the upgrading of the A82 will be set in the context of overall affordability and our commitments to other STPR proposals.

Roads

John Farquhar Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-21883 by Stewart Stevenson on 2 April 2009, whether it will outline how indicative estimates of the value of cost to government and the present value benefits were arrived at in relation to the Inverness bypass.

Stewart Stevenson: In relation to the Inverness bypass, the indicative estimate of the value of cost to government was arrived at based on the cost of similar recently implemented interventions discounted to present values in line with standard transport appraisal.

  The indicative estimate of the present value of benefits was arrived at using the Transport Model for Scotland and methodologies laid down in the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges, again discounted to present values.

Roads

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether work on dualling the A9, as set out in the Strategic Transport Projects Review, will commence in 2012 and whether it will detail this work.

Stewart Stevenson: The Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR) now provides a robust framework of schemes, the delivery of which will be considered in each spending review.

  A timetable for undertaking work on dualling the A9 will be set in the context of overall affordability and our commitments to other STPR proposals.

Roads

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what improvements are being undertaken to the A9 and whether the dualling programme will start in 2012.

Stewart Stevenson: Design work is currently underway to improve the A9 by dualling between Birnam and Luncarty. In addition, the current investment programme provides for improvements and reconstruction schemes at Kincraig, Loch Moy, Bankfoot, Carrbridge, Kincraig to Dalraddy, Slochd and Kindallachan as well as providing for a doubling of the length of the dual carriageway section at Crubenmore.

  The Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR) provides a robust framework of prioritised schemes, the delivery of which will be considered in future spending reviews.

  A timetable for undertaking the dualling programme will be set in the context of overall affordability and our commitments to other STPR proposals.

Roads

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-19420 by Tavish Scott on 21 September 2005, what the figures for traffic levels on the A9 trunk road between Perth and Inverness have been in each month in the last five years.

Stewart Stevenson: The figures below have been extracted from the Scottish Roads Traffic Database from January 2005 to March 2009. The figures are two-way flows (i.e. northbound and southbound flows combined) and are the average daily flow.

  Traffic flow data for the trunk road network is published on the Transport Scotland website at www.transportscotland.gov.uk.

  
  A9 Location
  January
  February
  March
  April
  May
  June
  July
  August
  September
  October
  November
  December

  2005
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

  Luncarty
  11,850
  13,579
  15,170
  16,240
  17,108
  17,547
  18,913
  19,818
  17,558
  16,721
  14,109
  13,314

  Birnam
  9,395
  10,874
  12,437
  13,345
  14,122
  14,554
  16,085
  16,820
  14,611
  13,903
  11,315
  10,634

  Moulinearn
  9,012
  10,539
  12,173
  13,150
  14,207
  14,735
  16,588
  17,467
  14,888
  13,922
  11,042
  10,222

  Killiecrankie
  6,427
  7,565
  8,694
  9,309
  9,966
  10,392
  11,842
  12,651
  10,620
  10,050
  7,992
  7,476

  Glen Garry
  5,580
  6,613
  7,645
  8,260
  8,897
  9,299
  10,652
  11,013
  9,444
  8,811
  6,719
  6,462

  Dalnaspidal
  5,588
  6,627
  7,671
  8,284
  8,941
  9,338
  10,691
  11,057
  9,460
  8,827
  6,721
  6,468

  Dalwhinnie
  5,270
  6,239
  7,149
  7,639
  8,144
  8,462
  9,651
  9,984
  8,609
  8,160
  6,323
  6,074

  Kingussie
  5,098
  6,025
  6,856
  7,314
  7,085
 
  9,124
  9,531
  8,245
  7,691
  6,056
  5,873

  Aviemore
  4,816
  5,577
  6,497
  7,003
  7,184
  7,544
  8,451
  8,910
  7,878
  7,187
  5,866
  5,686

  Tomatin
  5,961
  6,931
  7,832
  8,285
  8,843
  9,395
  10,265
  11,310
  9,727
  8,973
  7,542
  7,374

  N Kessock 
 
 
  24,769
  26,866
  27,767
  28,549
  29,191
  31,180
  29,017
  26,922
  26,044
  25,478

  2006
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

  Luncarty
  12,282
  13,950
  13,859
  17,417
  16,887
  17,963
  19,050
  20,083
  18,019
  17,032
  14,755
  13,815

  Birnam
  9,766
  11,114
  11,070
  14,472
  13,938
  14,998
  16,150
  16,982
  15,019
  14,114
  11,891
  10,987

  Moulinearn
  9,334
  10,835
  10,743
  14,344
  13,955
  15,211
  16,663
  17,859
  15,202
  14,130
  11,571
  10,550

  Killiecrankie
  6,672
  7,799
  7,670
  10,313
  9,846
  10,703
  12,003
  12,822
  10,830
  10,179
  8,357
  7,759

  Glen Garry
  5,743
  6,831
  6,684
  9,132
  8,703
  9,569
  10,708
  11,167
  9,640
  8,926
  7,063
  6,750

  Dalnaspidal
  5,751
  6,840
  6,715
  9,169
  8,751
  9,619
  10,754
  11,214
  9,661
  8,964
  7,098
  6,765

  Dalwhinnie
  5,408
  6,382
  6,295
  8,399
  7,942
  8,754
  9,719
  10,083
  8,796
  8,274
  6,630
  6,374

  Kingussie
  5,260
  6,173
  6,117
  8,420
  7,677
  8,405
  9,369
  9,783
  8,474
  8,012
  6,445
  6,211

  Aviemore
  5,013
  5,791
  5,688
  7,425
  7,392
  8,066
  8,667
  9,190
  8,058
  7,449
  6,311
  5,940

  Tomatin
  6,472
  7,419
  7,187
  9,054
  9,150
  9,917
  10,616
  11,399
  9,840
  9,114
  7,926
  7,561

  N Kessock
  19,677
 
  27,444
  27,569
  28,455
  28,295
  28,897
  27,066
  21,841
  24,989
  27,098
  25,740

  2007
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

  Luncarty
  12,436
  14,072
  14,822
  17,188
  17,178
  18,048
  19,095
  20,518
  18,015
  17,276
  15,270
  13,848

  Birnam
  5,762
  11,282
  11,867
  14,309
  14,240
  15,090
  16,177
  17,485
  15,208
  14,472
  12,616
  11,316

  Moulinearn
  9,518
  10,981
  11,740
  14,412
  14,512
  15,429
  16,585
  18,198
  15,508
  14,577
  12,085
  10,733

  Killiecrankie
  6,719
  7,875
  8,271
  10,197
  10,335
  11,082
  11,979
  13,297
  10,985
  10,382
  8,756
  7,903

  Glen Garry
  5,870
  6,925
  7,272
  9,061
  9,126
  9,974
  10,761
  11,567
  9,817
  9,139
  7,496
  6,917

  Dalnaspidal
  5,892
  6,943
  7,318
  9,114
  9,198
  10,043
  10,821
  11,620
  9,873
  9,188
  7,454
  6,915

  Dalwhinnie
  5,571
  6,549
  6,839
  8,336
  8,345
  9,164
  9,825
  10,510
  8,949
  8,467
  6,987
  6,487

  Kingussie
  5,406
  6,452
  7,011
  8,082
  8,065
  8,829
  9,480
  10,159
  8,652
  8,190
  6,776
  6,308

  Aviemore
  5,123
  5,958
  6,368
  7,852
  7,911
  8,580
  9,317
  10,389
  8,652
  7,970
  6,690
  6,109

  Tomatin
  6,672
  7,641
  7,936
  9,357
  9,640
  10,368
  10,880
  11,875
  10,109
  9,495
  8,223
 

  N Kessock 
  23,819
  26,534
  27,347
  28,583
  29,684
  29,875
  30,265
  32,266
  29,793
  28,380
  27,515
  26,163

  2008
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

  Luncarty
  12,538
  14,422
  15,536
  16,133
  17,819
  17,490
  18,227
  19,593
  17,558
  17,115
  14,494
  13,367

  Birnam
 
 
 
  12,878
  14,759
  14,545
  15,409
  16,741
  14,565
  14,165
  11,680
  10,679

  Moulinearn
  9,595
  11,234
  12,555
  13,045
  14,883
  14,816
  15,963
  17,418
  14,875
  14,449
  11,602
  10,496

  Killiecrankie
  6,887
  7,982
  8,994
  9,334
  10,498
  10,491
  11,420
  12,224
  10,364
  10,153
  8,263
  7,556

  Glen Garry
  5,981
  6,990
  7,964
  8,298
  9,305
  9,482
  10,221
  11,032
  9,224
  8,956
  7,019
  6,556

  Dalnaspidal
  5,984
  7,014
  7,993
  8,324
  9,376
  9,554
  10,289
  11,110
  9,288
  8,983
  7,027
  6,571

  Dalwhinnie
  5,669
  6,575
  7,412
  7,687
  8,335
  8,693
  9,042
  10,046
  8,446
  8,272
  6,567
  6,201

  Kingussie
  5,500
  6,363
  7,120
  7,430
  8,234
  8,407
  8,757
  9,714
  8,113
  8,010
  6,386
  6,009

  Aviemore
  5,233
  5,908
  6,532
  6,897
  7,762
  8,066
  8,466
  9,141
  7,852
  7,613
  6,211
  5,429

  Tomatin
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  7,546

  N Kessock
  24,138
  26,716
  26,954
  28,421
  29,773
  29,388
  29,951
  31,601
  29,739
  28,077
  26,894
  26,029

  2009
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

  Luncarty
  12,572
  14,181
  14,455
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

  Birnam
  10,000
  11,048
  11,716
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

  Moulinearn
  9,651
  10,922
  11,821
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

  Killiecrankie
  6,907
  7,745
  8,231
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

  Glen Garry
  6,023
  6,660
  7,021
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

  Dalnaspidal
  6,034
  6,827
  7,290
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

  Dalwhinnie
  5,651
  6,202
  5,772
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

  Kingussie
  5,524
  6,219
  6,625
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

  Aviemore
  5,189
  5,653
  6,361
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

  Tomatin
  6,719
  7,252
  7,877
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

  N Kessock
  24,381
  25,660
  27,326
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 



  Where information is missing from the tables, this is the result of failure of the traffic counter or road works.

Roads

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many of the single outcome agreements with local authorities detail how they will maintain the non-trunk road network.

Stewart Stevenson: We are currently in the process of agreeing single outcome agreements (SOAs) for 2009-10 with all 32 Community Planning Partnerships. We aim to complete this process by 1 June 2009. All finalised agreements will be available on the Improvement Service website www.improvementservice.org.uk thereafter.

  It would not be appropriate at this stage of the process to comment on specific areas of focus within individual draft agreements, but we expect SOAs to reflect the priorities and agreed outcomes for each Partnership and to include the relevant supporting indicators and targets. The Scottish Government will be looking for evidence that local outcomes reflect an area’s strategic priorities and that they are capable of being linked to one or more of the National Outcomes.

Rural Development

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications were received under the (a) agri-environment, (b) business development and (c) forestry elements of the Rural Priorities scheme.

Richard Lochhead: The following figures relate to the number of regional priorities under which funding has been applied for, presented to the first four assessment rounds under Rural Priorities.

  
  (a) Agri-Environment
  1,269

  (b) Business Development 
  588

  (c) Forestry
  231

Rural Development

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of applications were successful under the (a) agri-environment, (b) business development and (c) forestry elements of the Rural Priorities scheme.

Richard Lochhead: The following figures relate to the proportion of regional priorities under the given headings approved at the first four Rural Priorities assessment rounds, as a percentage of regional priorities considered.

  
  (a) Agri-Environment
  79%

  (b) Business Development
  71%

  (c) Forestry
  100%

Rural Development

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the level of spending has been on successful applications under the (a) agri-environment, (b) business development and (c) forestry elements of the Rural Priorities scheme.

Richard Lochhead: The following figures relate to the spending approved for regional priorities under the given headings, at the first four Rural Priorities assessment rounds.

  
  (a) Agri-Environment
  £66.1 million

  (b) Business Development
  £32.9 million

  (c) Forestry
  £8.6 million

Scottish Government Advertising

Ted Brocklebank (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how much it has spent on advertising in newspapers in each month since June 2007, broken down by (a) campaign and (b) newspaper.

John Swinney: The information requested is given in the table, Scottish Government Marketing Unit Press Advertising Spend since June 2007 , copies of which are available from the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 47933).

Scottish Water

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it ensures that Scottish Water carries out the exercise of its core functions in line with sustainable development principles.

Stewart Stevenson: Guidance has been issued to Scottish Water on the contribution it should make towards attaining the objective of acting in the way best calculated to achieve sustainable development. This guidance is kept under review.

Scottish Water

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it ensures Scottish Water’s compliance with ministerial guidance on sustainable development issued under the terms of section 51(3) of the Water Industry (Scotland) Act 2002.

Stewart Stevenson: Scottish Water reports on its compliance with section 51 and the relevant ministerial guidance in its annual report. These are laid before Parliament. Scottish Water’s 2007-08 Annual Report is available in Scottish Parliament Information Centre at (Bib. number 46506) or on Scottish Water’s website at:

  http://www.scottishwater.co.uk/portal/page/portal/SW_PAGE_GROUP_PS_ADMIN/SW _PUB_SCHEME_ADMIN_HOLDING/TAB65572/AnnualReport0708Oct08.pdf.

Scottish Water

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what sustainability indicators are monitored when assessing progress on sustainable development in the exercise of Scottish Water’s core functions.

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it monitors the sustainability performance of Scottish Water.

Stewart Stevenson: The government, together with stakeholders, monitors the performance of Scottish Water in respect of a number of measures in relation to the delivery of the capital programme, customer service and leakage reduction. Together, these measures demonstrate that Scottish Water is improving the quality of drinking water, reducing the impact of the industry on the environment whilst improving services to customers. Progress reports are produced quarterly on the government’s website at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Business-Industry/waterindustryscot/qs3 .

Scottish Water

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it defines lowest reasonable overall costs under section 29G of the Water Industry (Scotland) Act 2002 and whether it has provided the Water Industry Commission for Scotland with guidance on how it should interpret this phrase.

Stewart Stevenson: It is the responsibility of the Water Industry Commission for Scotland to interpret section 29G of the Water Industry (Scotland) Act 2002 when exercising its functions in relation to the determination of charges under the act.

Scottish Water

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what procedures it has in place to ensure that the Water Industry Commission for Scotland, when exercising its functions regarding charges for goods and services under section 29C(2)(i) of the Water Industry (Scotland) Act 2002, takes into consideration the ministerial guidance to Scottish Water on sustainable development.

Stewart Stevenson: Section 29c(2)(i) requires the Water Industry Commission for Scotland to take into consideration any ministerial guidance give to Scottish Water. In consulting on its methodology at the outset of the process for any review period and its Draft Determination of Charges, the Water Industry Commission for Scotland seeks views as to whether it has interpreted this guidance correctly.

Scottish Water

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S3W-22130 to S3W-22136 by Stewart Stevenson on 2 April 2009, when it directed Scottish Water’s £43.7 million out-performance balance to be deposited in a bank rather than invested in gilts.

Stewart Stevenson: Scottish Water’s Delivery Plan Update for 2009-10 set out Scottish Water’s proposals to hold these funds as bank deposits. This plan was approved by ministers on 25 March 2009.

Scottish Water

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S3W-22130 to S3W-22136 by Stewart Stevenson on 2 April 2009, what arrangements are in place to ensure that the financial flows from the current Scottish Water out-performance balance of £43.7 million are distinguished from Scottish Water’s day-to-day income and expenditure flows.

Stewart Stevenson: The full extent of the out-performance and the use of these funds will be determined at the end of the 2006-10 regulatory period. At this point, Scottish Water will appoint a custodian to arrange for the investment securities to be delivered/collected to/from appropriate investment counterparties and undertake all of the accounting and tax administration issues. For the present and remainder of the regulatory period, the £43.7 million no longer remains as a separately identifiable cash reserve within Scottish Water. Instead it has been used to support the capital programme.

Scottish Water

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S3W-22130 to S3W-22136 by Stewart Stevenson on 2 April 2009, what specific aspects of Scottish Water’s 2009-10 investment delivery the Scottish Government intends to address by the decision to deposit the current £43.7 million out-performance balance in a bank rather than to invest it in gilts as described on page 12 of the Delivery Plan 2006-2010 February 2009 Update .

Stewart Stevenson: As noted in the answer to question S3W-23197 on 5 May 2009, the £43.7 million has already been used by Scottish Water to fund the delivery of the capital programme. To date therefore, these funds have not been used to purchase gilts and do not remain as a deposit in a bank.

  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx..

Scottish Water

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S3W-22130 to S3W-22136 by Stewart Stevenson on 2 April 2009, for what specific investment purposes it has approved Scottish Water’s requests for withdrawing and using funds from its £43.7 million out-performance balance.

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S3W-22130 to S3W-22136 by Stewart Stevenson on 2 April 2009, for what specific investment purposes it has directed Scottish Water to withdraw and use funds from its £43.7 million out-performance balance.

Stewart Stevenson: Ministers have approved Scottish Water’s Delivery Plan Update for 2009-10 which sets the service levels SW will deliver and the investments they will make. Individual income streams can not be attributed to particular items of expenditure.

Tram Project

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions have taken place to progress tram line 3 to link Edinburgh city centre with the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh.

Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government has discussed with both City of Edinburgh Council and Tie Ltd what processes would need to be followed if they wished to secure powers to construct Tramline 3.

Tram Project

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any discussions regarding tram line 3 have considered extending the tram line to Midlothian.

Stewart Stevenson: No material proposal to extend the tram line to Midlothian has been considered.

Transport

John Farquhar Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-21885 by Stewart Stevenson on 2 April 2009, whether it can identify any of the recommended schemes in the Strategic Transport Projects Review that may take longer to complete than the 10 years between 2012 and 2022 and, if not, on what basis it was decided to lengthen the scope of the review to 20 years.

Stewart Stevenson: The Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR) provides a robust framework of prioritised schemes, the delivery of which will be considered in future spending reviews and covering future Parliaments.

  It is, therefore, not possible at this stage to pre-empt future decisions on delivery timescales.

Voluntary Sector

Mr Frank McAveety (Glasgow Shettleston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what volunteering programmes it has initiated to introduce young people to local sporting programmes.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Government supports a range of volunteering programmes, through its various partner organisations, to engage young people with sport. The member may wish to contact sportscotland, the delivery body responsible for supporting people in Scotland to participate in sport, for further details.

Voluntary Sector

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will review the decision to limit the provision of enhanced disclosure checks, in particular to the voluntary sector.

Shona Robison: Enhanced level disclosure checks can only be undertaken in line with current legislation. Entitlement to seek a check at this level depends on whether a particular position is (a) exempted from the provisions of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and (b) is a position which, in relation to volunteers working with adults at risk, meets the criteria specified within regulations 9 and 10 of the Police Act 1997(Criminal Records) (Scotland) Regulations 2006(SSI 2006/96).

  Following audit compliance work by Disclosure Scotland, it has come to light that some voluntary and charitable sector positions fall outwith the criteria set out in current legislation. We are however satisfied that those whose work brings them into unsupervised contact with adults at risk should be eligible for an enhanced level check and we will bring forward a legislative amendment which enables organisations to request these.